Customs officers have seized $5.34 million worth of illicit cigarettes from a lorry and arrested a 41-year-old driver at Kwu Tung, Sheung Shui.

Anti-Illicit-Cigarette Investigation Division officers targeted an incoming lorry, suspected of smuggling illicit cigarettes into Hong Kong. At about 12.20pm, they followed it from Lok Ma Chau Control Point, stopping it at Castle Peak Road in Kwu Tung for inspection. They found 3.56 million cigarettes on board and arrested the driver.

The seized duty-not-paid cigarettes carried a market value of $5.34 million and a duty potential of about $2.86 million.

So far this year, Customs officers have cracked 11 cases of smuggling illicit cigarette into Hong Kong, arresting 17 people and seizing 27 million duty-not-paid cigarettes worth about $41.8 million with a duty potential of about $22.4 million.

Under the Import & Export Ordinance, the maximum penalty for smuggling is a $2 million fine and seven years' imprisonment.

Customs urges members of the public to report any suspected illicit cigarette activities by calling the Customs hotline, 2545 6182.