119 ARRESTED IN CIGARETTE SMUGGLING CRACKDOWN

摘要

Hong Kong authorities arrested 119 people and seized 3 million untaxed cigarettes in November 2012 after cracking down on smugglers running home delivery services of the illicit smokes. Customs officials said smuggling groups sent fliers to residents in Hong Kong's public housing estates advertising the cut-rate smokes for order by telephone, with delivery in one to two days. One flier advertised cartons of Marlboro cigarettes at HK $200 to HK $240 (U.S. $26 to U.S. $31) per carton — less than half the typical retail price. Wan Hing-chuen, a divisional commander at the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, said the crackdown on stores had forced smugglers to change their "mode of delivery." Authorities made arrests and seizures in 96 cases from April to October 2012, Wan said. They seized 41 vehicles, including trucks involved in smuggling the cigarettes into Hong Kong from mainland China.