Customs officers from Revenue and General Investigation Bureau and Special Task Force in the past five days mounted a territory wide operation codenamed 'Cougar 21' to curb the peddling activities of illicit cigarettes at 21 black spots.
The operation was aimed at combating illicit cigarettes activities and arresting people buying, selling and dealing with illicit cigarettes.
During the operation, Customs officers cracked a total of 96 cases and seized about 680,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes worth $1.09 million with duty potential of about $550,000. Forty-seven persons, aged between 20 and 68, were arrested.
Two illicit cigarettes storage centers in Sham Shui Po and Mongkok were also smashed and a total of 200,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes valued at about $300,000 with duty potential of about $160,000 were seized. Five women and a man, aged between 20 and 39, were arrested, who were subsequently charged with the offence of 'Dealing with Goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance was applied'.
In the operation, Customs officers also targeted several suspected vehicles. From a targeted light goods vehicle intercepted in Sung Chi Street, Hunghom, around 340,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes worth about $540,000 with duty potential of about $270,000 were seized. Two men, aged 26 and 29, were arrested.
In addition, Customs officers also focused on illicit cigarettes peddling activities in Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei. They successfully cracked 30 cases with seizure of 63,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes valued at about $100,000 with duty potential of about $50,000. Eight persons, aged between 22 and 53, were arrested.
Four cases involving telephone delivery orders of illicit cigarettes in a public estate at Ho Man Tin were also cracked. A total of 4,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes worth $6,000 with duty potential of about $3,000 were seized. Three women, aged between 27 and 52, and a 68 year-old man were arrested.
A 30 year-old woman and a 81 year-old man were arrested for having bought illicit cigarettes from peddlers.
"Customs will continue to stay vigilant and take similar enforcement actions to crack down on such illicit activities. " A spokesman for Customs and Excise said today (December 10).
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, any person who is convicted of dealing, possession, selling or buying illicit cigarettes shall be liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $1 million and two-year imprisonment.
Ends/Friday, December 10, 2004