Tobacco haul: Customs have seized 150,000 cigarettes worth $225,000 from a departing Hong Kong fishing vessel.

Customs have arrested a Mainland shipmaster and seized 150,000 cigarettes worth $225,000, and $120,600 in dutiable value, from a departing Hong Kong fishing vessel.

About 10.30pm Saturday, officers stopped the vessel off Cheung Chau and found the cigarettes in a concealed compartment.

The shipmaster could not produce the export manifest and export permit for the cigarettes, and was arrested. The 29-year-old from Guangdong will be charged under the Import & Export and Dutiable Commodities Ordinances.