Customs officers have closed two mobile centres that were distributing illicit cigarettes, at Wong Keng Tei in Sai Kung and at Long Ping Estate in Yuen Long.

They seized more than 1 million dutiable cigarettes, worth about $1.533 million with a duty potential of $821,000.

About 10.30am on Tuesday, Customs officers from the Anti-Illicit-Cigarette Investigation Division stopped two men as they were loading illicit cigarettes onto a truck parked near the shore off Wong Keng Tei. They seized 562,000 illicit cigarettes and arrested the 32-year-old driver and 28-year-old worker.

They were released on bail pending further investigations.

At 11.30am today, Customs officers stopped two other men as they transferred illicit cigarettes from one van to another at the cargo loading area in the carpark at Long Ping Estate. They seized 460,000 illicit cigarettes and arrested the two drivers, aged 40 and 45.

Investigations are underway.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, the maximum penalty for selling, buying or dealing with dutiable cigarettes is a fine of $1 million and two years' imprisonment.