Cusoms bust $8.3m illicit cigarette storage and distribution centre

Customs have smashed a suspected illicit cigarette storage and distribution centre inside a private housing estate in Tsing Yi.

About 1.86 million suspected illicit cigarettes, worth an estimated 8.3 million dollars, were seized -- with a duty potential of around 6.1 million dollars.

A 28-year-old local man was arrested.

Customs spotted the suspect carrying large nylon bags to a private car in a housing estate car park at around 1pm and found the items inside the bags before making an arrest.

Authorities are not ruling out further arrests.