HONG KONG, May 11 -- Hong Kong Customs said on Wednesday that they seized suspected smuggling illicit cigarettes with a market value of about 24 million Hong Kong dollars (about 3.1 million U.S. dollars) from an oceangoing vessel from Sri Lanka.
According to Hong Kong Customs, through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a 40-foot container declared to contain towels arriving in Hong Kong from Sri Lanka. During the inspection, Customs officers discovered about 8.8 million sticks of suspected illicit cigarettes with a market value of about 24 million Hong Kong dollars and duty potential of about 17 million Hong Kong dollars.
An investigation is ongoing.
Hong Kong Customs said they will continue to carry out stringent enforcement action against all illicit cigarette activities.
Under Hong Kong's Import and Export Ordinance, smuggling is a serious offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of 2 million Hong Kong dollars and imprisonment of seven years.
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