ICAC operation ‘Heron’ smashes syndicate engaged in illegal e-cigarettes trade and bribing logistics staff for delivery to customers
2025-5-9
In a law enforcement operation codenamed “Heron” mounted recently, the ICAC smashed a syndicate engaged in the illegal sale of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) via its online shop and through bribing staff of a logistics company, delivered the e-cigarettes and vaping products to customers. During the operation, ICAC officers arrested 16 people and seized over 200,000 pieces of vaping products with a market value of about $20 million, a record seizure of such since the e-cigarettes ban came into effect.
The 16 arrestees were 12 men and four women, aged between 24 and 70. They included seven members of the e-cigarettes illegal sale syndicate, namely its mastermind and his parents and wife, as well as three staff members assisted him to operate the illegal business. Nine other arrestees were staff members of a logistics company, namely a branch supervisor and frontline staff from two of its business stations in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island.
During the operation, search warrants were executed by ICAC officers to conduct searches at various premises, including the residences of the arrestees, the two business stations of the logistics company, and a warehouse used by the syndicate for storing e-cigarettes products. A total of 600 cartons, containing over 200,000 e-cigarettes products comprising vaping devices and cartridges with a market value of about $20 million, were seized from the warehouse.
From April 30, 2022, sale of e-cigarettes has been banned in Hong Kong. After the legislation has come into effect, the logistics company linked to the investigation had tightened its policy and would not accept delivery requests of e-cigarettes products, while staff were required to conduct inspection of parcels received from customers.
ICAC investigation revealed that the syndicate had been operating an online shop selling e-cigarettes and delivering goods through logistics companies. Since the syndicate was unable to deliver goods to its customers through the logistics companies after the new ordinance was enacted, it resorted to corruption by offering bribes to logistics staff to circumvent the inspection policy.
It is suspected that the arrested logistics staff had assisted the syndicate to deliver about 200 parcels each day and accepted bribes of up to $20 per parcel.
The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its operation, and arranged testing of the seized vaping products by the government laboratory.
The 16 arrestees were 12 men and four women, aged between 24 and 70. They included seven members of the e-cigarettes illegal sale syndicate, namely its mastermind and his parents and wife, as well as three staff members assisted him to operate the illegal business. Nine other arrestees were staff members of a logistics company, namely a branch supervisor and frontline staff from two of its business stations in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island.
During the operation, search warrants were executed by ICAC officers to conduct searches at various premises, including the residences of the arrestees, the two business stations of the logistics company, and a warehouse used by the syndicate for storing e-cigarettes products. A total of 600 cartons, containing over 200,000 e-cigarettes products comprising vaping devices and cartridges with a market value of about $20 million, were seized from the warehouse.
From April 30, 2022, sale of e-cigarettes has been banned in Hong Kong. After the legislation has come into effect, the logistics company linked to the investigation had tightened its policy and would not accept delivery requests of e-cigarettes products, while staff were required to conduct inspection of parcels received from customers.
ICAC investigation revealed that the syndicate had been operating an online shop selling e-cigarettes and delivering goods through logistics companies. Since the syndicate was unable to deliver goods to its customers through the logistics companies after the new ordinance was enacted, it resorted to corruption by offering bribes to logistics staff to circumvent the inspection policy.
It is suspected that the arrested logistics staff had assisted the syndicate to deliver about 200 parcels each day and accepted bribes of up to $20 per parcel.
The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its operation, and arranged testing of the seized vaping products by the government laboratory.
A total of 600 cartons, containing over 200,000 e-cigarettes products with a market value of about $20 million, were seized at the ICAC operation.
ICAC Principal Investigator Eric Chan Cheuk-hay (central) and Investigator Sunny Sin Wai-ching (right), together with Head of Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of Department of Health Dr Fung Ying (left) introduce the ICAC operation “Heron” at a media briefing.
ICAC Principal Investigator Eric Chan Cheuk-hay (central) and Investigator Sunny Sin Wai-ching (right), together with Head of Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of Department of Health Dr Fung Ying (left) introduce the ICAC operation “Heron” at a media briefing.