- The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) found 1.63 million packs of smuggled cigarettes on a ship near the disputed Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea.
- The catch, just west of the islands, was made on a Togolese-registered freighter on Mar 6.
- The cigarettes are suspected to be counterfeit Chinese brands.
Coast Guard and customs officials have seized 1.6 million packs of contraband cigarettes from a Togo-flagged cargo vessel that was intercepted near Dongsha Island March 6, reports Taiwan English News.
Contraband cigarettes onboard
The confiscated cigarettes was found to have a street value of more than NT$100 million (US$3.54 million).
The captain, a citizen of Myanmar, told his interviewers the cigarettes had come on board in Cambodia and that their destination was Taiwan. A coast guard vessel escorted the freighter to Kaohsiung, where they arrived on March 9.
Counterfeit products
The crew members, two Chinese and 10 Myanmar nationals, were subjected to coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention measures upon their arrival. Inspectors counted 295 bags on board, containing more than 1.6 million cigarette packs.
A preliminary investigation concluded the Chinese-brand smokes were actually counterfeit products. The Kaohsiung City Department of Financial Affairs will reportedly determine the nature of the fines to be imposed.
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Taiwan English News
