Hong Kong Customs seized about 340,000 suspected illicit cigarettes worth about HK$1.53 million with a duty value of about HK$1.12 million in a raid on a suspected storage warehouse in Kwai Chung on Wednesday, arresting a Chinese man who claimed to be a shop owner, authorities said.
During an anti-illicit cigarette operation around midday, officers spotted a man moving boxes and plastic bags into a unit in an industrial building. A search of the boxes and bags uncovered about 50,000 suspected illicit cigarettes. The man was arrested. A further search of the unit found about 290,000 more suspected illicit cigarettes.
Customs said smugglers have changed their tactics, adopting a "short storage, quick turnover" strategy to reduce risk. The raid marked the second time in three months that Customs has uncovered a storage warehouse in the same industrial building, with offenders mistakenly believing there would be a brief enforcement gap after a previous bust.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone who handles, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes faces a maximum penalty of a HK$2 million fine and seven years imprisonment.
