HONG KONG: Hong Kong Customs have detected 700,000 sticks of suspected illicit cigarettes hidden in fake ovens in the back of a truck.
The lorry was intercepted when trying to cross from mainland China into Hong Kong at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point on Friday.
The cigarettes are said to have a market value of around HKD18.8 million and a duty potential of around HKD1.3 million.
A 42-year-old man has been arrested and the truck was seized.
The maximum penalty for smuggling cigarettes is a fine of HKD2 million and seven years in jail.
A Customs spokesman said on Saturday, “Hong Kong Customs will continue to carry out stringent enforcement action against the smuggling of illicit cigarettes at boundary control points.”
