4 held as Hong Kong seizes HK$92 million of illicit cigarettes from cargo vessel

Hong Kong customs has seized about 20 million illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of HK$92 million (US$11.46 million) from a cargo vessel during a joint anti-smuggling operation with authorities in mainland China.The cigarettes would have generated about HK$68 million in tax revenue, authorities said on Saturday.Officers from the Customs and Excise Department, marine police and mainland law enforcement agencies conducted the operation in the early hours of Friday based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.During the operation, they intercepted a river trade vessel in the waters off Waglan Island, 5.4 nautical miles southeast of Stanley.Officers seized the cigarettes from two 45-foot containers on board.The haul was estimated to be worth HK$92 million, with a duty potential of about HK$68 million.