Customs officers at Sha Tau Kok Control Point yesterday (July 16) seized from an arriving container truck 720,000 sticks of dutiable cigarettes, worth about $1.1 million and with duty potential of $580,000.
About 11am yesterday, Customs officers intercepted an arriving container truck and seized from the cargo container 60 cartons of dutiable cigarettes.
A 55-year-old Hong Kong man was arrested. He was charged with one count of "importing unmanifested cargo" under Import and Export Ordinance and one count of "dealing with goods to which Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies" under Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Any person found guilty of "dealing with goods to which Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies" is liable on conviction to a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Ends/Tuesday, July 17, 2007