Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit goods and suspected smuggled nicotine-containing e-cigarette oil worth about $4.3 million (with photo)

Date: 28/07/2023

Hong Kong Customs seized about 3 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods and about 670 bottles of suspected smuggled nicotine-containing e-cigarette oil, with a total estimated market value of about $4.3 million, at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on July 13.

Through risk assessment, Customs officers intercepted an incoming truck at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on that day. The batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including mobile phones, clothing, footwear and earphones, and the batch of suspected smuggled nicotine-containing e-cigarette oil were found inside the cargo compartment. A 49-year-old male driver was arrested.

An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit goods and suspected smuggled e-cigarette oil would be transhipped to Taiwan by air.

An investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

Hong Kong Customs will continue to strengthen co-operation with the Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies and take stringent enforcement action against cross-boundary counterfeit goods and smuggling activities involving alternative smoking products.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person who imports an alternative smoking product, including electronic cigarette products, heated tobacco products, herbal cigarettes and any related devices, parts and accessories, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting and smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs seized about 3 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods and about 670 bottles of suspected smuggled nicotine-containing e-cigarette oil, with a total estimated market value of about $4.3 million, at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on July 13. Photo shows the suspected counterfeit and smuggled goods seized.

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