Key points:
1. Hong Kong Customs recently seized over 6 million illegal cigarettes and heated tobacco products in two separate operations, with a total value exceeding $3.8 million.
2. Multiple suspects have been arrested for participating in cross-border cigarette smuggling, with the smuggled products involving other countries.
The Customs of Hong Kong, China seized over 6 million illegal cigarettes and heated tobacco products in two operations, with a total value exceeding 29 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 3.8 million US dollars), according to Tobaccoreporter.
In a recent operation, two male suspects were arrested for storing 6 million cigarettes in a truck and warehouse.
Chan Sing-lung, Senior Investigator at the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department's Tax Crime Investigation Bureau, said: "We believe these products were intended for export to other countries, but we cannot rule out the possibility that some of them may end up being sold in the local black market for tobacco."
In a separate operation, Hong Kong Customs arrested a mainland Chinese man for possessing 90,000 illegal cigarettes and 110,000 illegal heated tobacco products.
Authorities also found 140,000 untaxed Japanese cigarettes and alternative smoking products in his room. Officials said the smuggled items were part of an illegal operation involving Japan.
Wong Wing-yuen, Customs and Excise Department Senior Investigator, said: "Our investigation shows that this syndicate uses airline passengers to smuggle illegal tobacco products into Hong Kong, storing them in hotel rooms, and then distributing them to customers.
In the past two weeks, a total of 13 men and eight women have been arrested, mostly Mainland tourists from Japan. They are involved in 20 cases, in which a total of 600,000 untaxed cigarettes and 240,000 alternative tobacco products were seized, with a market value of 4 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 520,000 US dollars).
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