HK$4.65 million worth of illegal cigarettes seized daily by Hong Kong customs, with HK$1.03 billion of contraband uncovered this year

Hong Kong customs officers on average seize HK$4.65 million (US$592,000) worth of black-market cigarettes daily, pushing the total value of the contraband uncovered this year to HK$1.03 billion, according to latest statistics.

The Customs and Excise Department on Thursday revealed that the 376 million illicit cigarettes confiscated, which could generate HK$716 million if legally imported, marked a 53 per cent rise year on year, with last year’s numbers in the same period at 245 million cigarettes worth HK$675 million.