13 new smuggling cases; cigarettes continue to dominate seizures

Customs officers intercepted 13 smuggling attempts at Macau International Airport and the Macau Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) last week, seizing goods worth about MOP900,000.

According to the Macau Customs Service (SA), the bureau seizing approximately 214,000 cigarettes, 47,000 e-cigarette cartridges, 37,000 e-cigarettes, 795 cosmetic products, 44 injectable drugs and 17 e-cigarette devices.

Additionally, the SA said duties payable on the tobacco products amounted to approximately MOP320,000.

In the same operation, the SA detained 13 mainland Chinese residents attempting to smuggle goods: five at MIA and eight at the Macau Port of the HZMB.

In both cases, the suspects attempted to smuggle the goods in their carry-on luggage.

According to the SA, the suspects, aged between 23 and 57, were prosecuted under the Foreign Trade Law.

If found guilty, the offenders face a maximum fine of MOP100,000, and authorities may confiscate the seized goods.

Additionally, the eight suspects accused of smuggling cigarettes and e-cigarette products are also suspected of violating the Smoking Prevention and Control Law. Their cases have been referred to the Health Bureau for follow-up.

As the SA has previously reported, cigarettes and e-cigarette products continue to account for the majority of smuggling attempts.

The Legislative Assembly recently approved amendments to Macau’s anti-smoking legislation. The new rules expand outdoor smoke-free zones, tighten restrictions on e-cigarettes and increase penalties for their use and possession. The changes will take effect in phases starting Jan. 1, 2027.

Among the amendments covering e-cigarettes and other alternatives to traditional cigarettes is an increase in the fine for illegally carrying or importing items such as nicotine pouches, herbal cigarettes and water pipes across the border to MOP10,000.

The SA said it will continue strengthening inspection efforts at all ports to combat smuggling.

As the Times reported earlier this week, Macau is set to tighten laws against parallel trading, with organized cargo-splitting and false-declaration schemes to be criminalized or treated as administrative offenses.

The government plans to amend the law to reclassify organized, group-based parallel trading from an administrative offense to a criminal or minor offense and introduce new penalties for recruiting others into such activities, particularly students.

Under the current legal framework, parallel trading is treated as an administrative offense punishable by fines.