Customs officers from the Revenue and General Investigation Bureau and Special Task Force mounted a territory-wide operation against street-level illicit cigarettes activities from April 26 to 29.
The four-day operation, codenamed "Cougar 14", was aimed at curbing illicit cigarettes activities by arresting people who buy, sell or deal with illicit cigarettes.
During the operation, the officers cracked a total of 44 cases, including the neutralisation of four illicit cigarettes storage centres in Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, North Point and Chai Wan.
A total of 65 people were arrested with the seizure of about 2.7 million sticks of illicit cigarettes. Total value of the seizure was more than $4 million and the duty potential was about $2.2 million.
During the operation in Tsuen Wan, officers seized about 2.3 million sticks of illicit cigarettes from a storage centre. The seizure amounted to about $3.5 million and the duty potential was about $1.8 million.
Two men, aged 22 and 46, were arrested. They were subsequently charged with the offence of "Dealing with Goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance was applied" under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.
Of the 65 arrested, 23 men and two women, aged between 23 and 76, were buyers of illicit cigarettes. They were all charged and appeared in court. After being convicted, they were imposed a fine from $250 to $1,500.
The officers also arrested 20 men and 20 women, aged between 17 and 68, for selling illicit cigarettes. They were all immediately charged and after conviction, were imprisoned for terms ranging from two weeks to four months.
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department appealed to members of the public not to buy illicit cigarettes.
The spokesman said that under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, any person convicted of dealing, possession, selling or buying illicit cigarettes was liable to a maximum penalty of a $1 million fine and imprisonment for two years and would have a criminal record.
He appealed to members of the public to call the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 to report any suspected illicit cigarettes activities.
Ends/Thursday, April 29, 2004