The Customs and Excise Department said the cigarettes were seized in four sea-smuggling cases. It estimated their dutiable value at about HK$170 million.
Between August and September, Customs selected and inspected five 40-foot shipping containers from Southeast Asia at Kwai Chung Customhouse. They were declared to contain clothing, lighting equipment, electronic parts and hydraulic parts.
Customs said its preliminary investigation indicated the cigarettes were intended for onward transshipment to other countries or regions. They were intercepted in Hong Kong during transshipment.