Man Caught in Macau for Illegally Trafficking Tobacco Sticks

According to the Macau SAR government website, on the afternoon of April 13, a male traveler from Taiwan arrived at the Taipa Ferry Terminal on a passenger ferry from Hong Kong International Airport. He entered Macau through the green channel (nothing-to-declare channel), but customs officers intercepted him after discovering that his luggage contained more than 10,000 heated tobacco sticks.

When customs officers stationed at the Taipa Ferry Terminal stopped the traveler for inspection, X-ray images suggested that his luggage contained a large quantity of cigarettes. Officers then immediately examined one suitcase and two backpacks belonging to him, seizing 70 cartons, or a total of 14,000 heated tobacco sticks, with an estimated value of about HK$15,000. The man claimed that the goods were purchased in Japan and were for personal use. However, Macau Customs has already initiated prosecution against him under the Foreign Trade Law.

If convicted, he may face a fine ranging from MOP 5,000 to MOP 100,000, and the seized goods will also be declared property of the Macau Special Administrative Region. Macau Customs emphasized that it will continue stepping up efforts to combat the trafficking of illicit cigarettes.

Reminder: Under the relevant provisions of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Tobacco Monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China, imported tobacco monopoly products may only be handled by enterprises holding a special tobacco monopoly business license. Investigators found that the persons involved in the case had not obtained qualifications to import tobacco monopoly products, nor did they hold a tobacco retail license. The IQOS cigarettes they sold were genuine products smuggled in from overseas without the words “China National Tobacco Corporation Monopoly” on the packaging. The vaping devices involved were all overseas-produced heated tobacco products that entered the domestic market through unofficial channels under the label of cigarette substitutes, before spreading and circulating within China. These products are tobacco monopoly goods and are not included within the scope of permitted imported tobacco monopoly products. Therefore, HEETS, Marlboro, and other brands of tobacco sticks currently seen on the domestic market have not been legally imported for sale in China and are all considered illegally smuggled goods.