Customs busts 4 mobile illicit cigarette stalls in Yau Ma Tei, 5 arrested

Hong Kong Customs arrested five local people and seized about 16,800 suspected illicit cigarettes worth about HK$75,000 during a two-day operation targeting mobile illicit cigarette stalls in Yau Ma Tei, authorities said.

The operation on Sunday and Monday targeted stalls on Shanghai Street and Temple Street. Officers raided four suspected stalls, arresting two men and three women aged between 32 and 75. All five claimed to be unemployed and were charged.

+2

On Sunday, a 71-year-old man was arrested and charged. On Monday, officers raided three more stalls, arresting four others and seizing an additional 10,500 suspected illicit cigarettes worth about HK$50,000.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone who deals in, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes faces a maximum penalty of a HK$2 million fine and seven years imprisonment.

𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽 ↓