Hong Kong Customs seized 7.7 million illicit cigarettes on Tuesday worth about 21 million HK dollars (about 2.7 million U.S. dollars), with a duty potential of about 15 million HK dollars, it said here on Wednesday.

The cigarettes were found in a container at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound declared to be carrying housewares from Haiphong, Vietnam.

A spokesman said the operation showed the effectiveness of Hong Kong Customs' enforcement strategy, especially the escalated enforcement actions against smuggling activities at source.

Under the Import and Export Ordinance, smuggling is a serious offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of 2 million HK dollars and imprisonment for seven years. Enditem

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