Reply:
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14.
Mr President,
(a)
The Customs & Excise Department (C&ED) is responsible for the detection and prevention of smuggling of contraband, including narcotics, cigarettes and other dutiable commodities. Prior to July 1993, there was no separate dedicated teams deployed on combating cigarette smuggling. Rather, action against cigarette smuggling is an integral part of the enforcement duties of C&E officers deployed at control points, on land and maritime patrol, investigation and other anti-smuggling activities. The number of C&E officers deployed for such purposes in the past five years were:
Financial year
1990-91
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
Staff number
2,381
2,381
2,307
2,323
2,587
(b)
In July 1993, the Department set up a 12-man Cigarette Action Team to tackle specifically cigarette smuggling.
In May 1994, the Department expanded this to a 40-man strong Anti-Cigarette Smuggling Task Force.
Other C&E officers carrying out normal control and enforcement work, of course, continue to assist in anti-smuggling of cigarettes in the course of their normal duties.
Before 1991-92, enforcement statistics were collected in respect of smuggling activities in general and there was no separate breakdown for cigarette smuggling cases, except for the amount of cigarettes seized. As for conviction statistics, a separate breakdown for cigarette smuggling cases was only available from 1993-94. The relevant statistics on enforcement and conviction are set out in my written reply to Members -
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