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Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
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Customs bust biggest illicit cigarette case in 21 years
Hong Kong Customs mounted a special operation combating illicit cigarette activities before the summer holidays last week, detecting a total of 20 relevant cases, with one of the cases being the largest cigarette smuggling case caught by authorities in the past 21 years.
Of the 20 cases, a total of about 97 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about HK$270 million and a duty potential of about HK$180 million were seized across the territory, according to a Customs statement.
Highlighting the largest bust, it noted that the seizure amount of that particular case reached 78 million suspected illicit cigarettes, and the estimated market value was about HK$220 million with a duty potential of about HK$150 million.
“This is the largest cigarette smuggling case detected by Customs in the past 21 years,” the statement read.
During the whole special operation, Customs officers arrested 23 people aged between 23 and 71.
Highlighting the largest bust, it noted that the seizure amount of that particular case reached 78 million suspected illicit cigarettes, and the estimated market value was about HK$220 million with a duty potential of about HK$150 million.
“This is the largest cigarette smuggling case detected by Customs in the past 21 years,” the statement read.
During the whole special operation, Customs officers arrested 23 people aged between 23 and 71.
