Mastermind of illegal e-cigarettes trade syndicate and logistics staff among eight charged by ICAC with bribery over product delivery

Following an operation codenamed “Heron” and seeking legal advice after conducting an intensive investigation which revealed that a syndicate engaged in the illegal sale of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) had allegedly delivered e-cigarettes and vaping products to customers through corrupt means, the ICAC today (October 13) charged eight people, including the mastermind of the syndicate and staff members of a logistics company, with total bribes amounting to about $370,000.

Three of the defendants were Jerry Cheung Wai-teng, 41, operator of an online shop selling e-cigarette products; Cheung’s wife Chan Mei-kwan, 38; and So Wing-shing, 37, warehouse keeper of the online shop.

Five other co-defendants, aged between 27 and 56, were staff members of S.F. Express (Hong Kong) Limited (SF Express), namely Choi Chun-pan, store manager; So Mei-yan and Alda Chung Cheuk-ying, both store assistants; Ng Kwok-hon and Ken Wong Wing-wah, both couriers.

Cheung and the five staff members of SF face two counts of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.

Cheung, Chan and So Wing-shing jointly face two other charges – one of conspiracy to sell alternative smoking products, contrary to section 15DA(1)(c) of the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, and one of conspiracy to sell a poison included in Part 1 of the Poison List, contrary to sections 21 and 33(1) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.

All defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 14) for mention. The prosecution will later apply to transfer the case to the District Court for plea.

At the material time, Cheung operated an online shop selling e-cigarettes, and used accounts of him and his wife to receive payments for products sold. So Wing-shing was employed by Cheung to assist in selling and packing e-cigarette products for customers of the online shop.

Choi was the store manager posted to an SF store and store assistants So Mei-yan and Chung were his subordinates. Ng and Wong were couriers of another SF store.

From April 30, 2022, sale of e-cigarettes has been banned in Hong Kong. To ensure that parcels do not contain prohibited items, including e-cigarettes, SF requires its frontline staff to unpack and check the parcels received. If prohibited items are found, the matter should be reported to a store supervisor.

ICAC investigation revealed that e-cigarettes online shop operator Cheung had allegedly approached SF’s store assistant So Mei-yan and courier Ng. Cheung offered to reward the duo for their assistance in delivering e-cigarette products via SF. After So secured Choi’s connivance, she and Ng further sought assistance from colleagues in their respective stores to deliver the parcels. Investigation revealed that between June 2024 and April 2025, the relevant accounts of the online shop received payments totalling about $30 million.

One of the charges alleges that between July 2024 and April 2025, Cheung, Choi, So Mei-yan and Chung had conspired together for the three SF staff members to accept bribes totalling about $250,000 from Cheung for accepting delivery orders containing e-cigarette products in breach of SF’s internal policy.

Cheung had also allegedly conspired with Ng and Wong by corrupt means for the latter duo accept bribes totalling about $120,000 for accepting delivery orders containing e-cigarette products.

The remaining two charges allege that between April 2023 and April 2025, Cheung, Chan and So Wing-shing had conspired together to sell alternative smoking products and a poison included in Part I of the Poisons List, namely nicotine.

During operation “Heron” mounted in April 2025, the ICAC seized over 200,000 pieces of vaping products comprising vaping devices and cartridges containing nicotine with a market value of about $20 million, a record seizure of such since the e-cigarettes ban came into effect.

The Department of Health and SF rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.