The Macao Customs Service (SA) announced in a statement on Monday that its officers seized 560,000 cigarettes, 130,000 e-cigarettes and 10 injectable medicines at the Macau International Airport on Friday and Sunday.
According to the statement, the goods, with a total retail value of around 760,000 patacas, and the tax payable on the conventional cigarettes involved in the case, amounting to about 840,000 patacas.
The statement did not elaborate on the injectable medicines.
Based on intelligence received, customs officers recently stepped up inspections of passengers arriving in Macau on flights from Japan. The officers intercepted a total of 20 passengers and seized items including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and injectable medicines from their carry-on luggage, the statement said.
In the statement, the Customs Service identified the 20 smugglers as mainland Chinese aged between 22 and 69. It has initiated legal action against them under the provisions of the External Trade Law. If the offences are confirmed, the suspects may be subject to a maximum fine of 100,000 patacas each.
In addition, 15 of the individuals are suspected of having violated the provisions of Macau’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Law, and the cases have been referred to the Health Bureau for follow-up action.
According to the law, the import of e-cigarettes is illegal.
Meanwhile, the Customs Service announced in a separate statement on Monday that its officers seized 3,800 boxes of medicines, 577 cosmetic products, 459 bottles and 340 boxes of health products, 5,488 used electronic products, and 70 kg of hermit crabs, with a total value of around 5.83 million patacas, from two lorries at the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal last Friday.
According to the statement, based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis, customs officers thoroughly inspected two lorries departing from the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal. The inspections revealed that the goods carried by the lorries either did neither match the declared information nor had they completed the necessary customs clearance procedures, the statement said, adding that the person in charge of both lorries, a 45-year-old Chinese mainland resident, is facing legal action in accordance with Macau’s External Trade Law.
In addition, as the individual is suspected of having violated provisions under Macau’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary* Control Law, the case has been referred to the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) for follow-up action.
* Phytosanitary refers to the health of plants, specifically relating to measures taken to protect plant life and agriculture from the introduction and spread of pests, diseases, or weeds.
This undated handout photo provided by Macau Customs (SA) yesterday shows 560,000 cigarettes, 130,000 e-cigarettes and 10 injectable medicines seized by its officers at the Macau International Airport on July 3 and 5.
