Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected smuggled counterfeit goods and suspected nicotine-containing oil for electronic cigarettes worth about $3.9 million (with photo)

Date: 06/10/2023

Hong Kong Customs on September 21 detected a suspected smuggling case and seized about 20 000 suspected counterfeit goods and about 3 000 bottles of suspected nicotine-containing oil for electronic cigarettes, with a total estimated market value of about $3.9 million, at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound.

Through risk assessment, Customs on that day inspected a 40-foot container, declared as carrying daily necessities, arriving in Hong Kong from Nansha, Guangdong. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of electronic cigarette oil and suspected counterfeit goods, including earphones, footwear, mobile phones and mobile accessories inside the container.

An initial investigation revealed that the batch of electronic cigarette oil and suspected counterfeit goods would be transhipped to overseas regions via the airfreight channel.

An investigation is ongoing.

Customs will continue to combat smuggling activities and cross-boundary counterfeit goods activities with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

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.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling or counterfeiting 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/).

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