Customs have shut down two illicit cigarette storage centres and two mobile distribution centres in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Lau Fau Shan, seizing $4.72 million worth of cigarettes and arresting seven men.

Officers raided a distribution centre in Tuen Mun on August 15 and seized 1.25 million cigarettes valued at $1.86 million from a lorry and a van, arresting three men. They continued the operation yesterday and seized 1.09 million cigarettes worth $1.63 million from a lorry at a Yuen Long carpark. A 26-year-old man was arrested.

The officers then raided a village house in Lau Fau Shan and seized 483,900 cigarettes valued at $ 720,000 from the storage centre. Another team of officers shut down another storage centre at a Yuen Long container site, seizing 330,800 cigarettes worth $490,000 and arresting three men aged 19 to 25.

The men and the vehicles have been detained for investigations.