Hong Kong Customs closed down a presumed illegal cigarette storage centre in Kwai Chung today (September 8). An overall of about 2.41 million believed illegal cigarettes were taken. The overall approximated market price had to do with $10.85 million, while the task capacity had to do with $7.98 million. 3 guys associated with the case were detained.

Custom-mades officers browsed a suspicious system in a commercial structure in Kwai Chung and discovered the batch of presumed illegal cigarettes today. 3 males aged in between 32 and 36 and presumed to be gotten in touch with the case were apprehended at the scene. They declared to be a transport employee, a chauffeur and a carrier respectively.

The case is still under examination. The apprehended males have actually been launched on bail pending more examination. Custom-mades will continue to trace the source of the illegal cigarettes. The possibility of additional arrests is not dismissed.

Custom-mades will continue its threat evaluation and intelligence analysis for interception at source, along with through its multipronged enforcement method targeting storage, circulation and marketing to spare no effort in combating illegal cigarette activities.

Customs worries that it is an offense to purchase or offer illegal cigarettes. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone who handles, has, offers or purchases illegal cigarettes devotes an offense. The optimum charge upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and jail time for 7 years.

Members of the general public are advised to report any thought illegal cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its devoted crime-reporting e-mail account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online type (eform.cefs.gov.hk/ form/ced002).