Hong Kong customs arrested a 41-year-old local man after finding 400 cigarettes hidden inside a parcel declared as crayons from Japan at the airport on Monday.
Officers selected the shipment for inspection based on risk assessment. An X-ray image appeared suspicious, prompting a physical check that revealed the cigarettes.
Following up, officers from the revenue crimes investigation bureau monitored the delivery to its destination – a commercial building in Tsim Sha Tsui – and arrested the male recipient, a company director.
Another 130 cigarettes of the same brand were found in his office and on his person.
Customs investigator Ngan Ling-hin said the seized cigarettes were worth about $2,400, with a duty value of approximately $1,800. He stressed customs will combat illicit cigarettes through all channels, including online orders, postal parcels, phone orders, or street sales. Enforcement action will be taken if there is reasonable belief the cigarettes are untaxed.
Customs urged the public not to risk criminal liability for minor gains.
