Key facts
- Illicit cigarette seizures in the first nine months of 2026 nearly matched the 2025 annual total.
- Two maritime smuggling cases in May 2026 yielded over 52 million suspected illicit cigarettes.
- A decoy operation active since October 7, 2026, resulted in 10 arrests and the seizure of 120,000 illicit cigarettes.
Hong Kong customs officers seized 600 million illicit cigarette sticks in the first three quarters of 2026, the department chief said. Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat stated on Saturday that this amount nearly matched the total for all of 2025. He also revealed plans to implement more advanced contraband detection equipment at additional border checkpoints to alleviate manpower pressures.
In May 2026, Hong Kong Customs intercepted over 52 million suspected illicit cigarettes in two maritime smuggling cases, with an estimated market value of HK$238 million and potential unpaid duty of HK$175 million. One case involved 31.8 million cigarettes concealed in containers declared as grinding tools, while the second found 21 million cigarettes hidden in containers declared as industrial modular systems.
Separately, a decoy operation active since October 7, 2026, led to the arrest of 10 individuals and the seizure of approximately 120,000 illicit cigarettes from retail outlets selling them below the statutory duty rate.