Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 22) seized about 50 000 suspected illicit heat-not-burn (HNB) products with an estimated market value of about $140,000 and a duty potential of about $100,000 at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

     A male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Quanzhou, Fujian, yesterday night. During Customs clearance, the batch of suspected illicit HNB products was found inside his luggage.

     The 27-year-old man was arrested for failing to declare HNB products in excess of the duty-free concession to a Customs officer.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Up till July, 37 incoming passengers were arrested at HKIA this year for failing to make a declaration of HNB products in excess of the duty-free concession to Customs officers. About 900 000 suspected illicit HNB products with an estimated market value of about $2.5 million and duty potential of about $1.7 million were seized.

     Customs reminds members of the public that under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), tobacco is a dutiable good to which the DCO applies. Any HNB product containing tobacco in content is also a dutiable good subject to the control of the DCO. Any person who possesses, sells or buys dutiable commodities without a valid license commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may call Customs' hotline 2815 7711 regarding whether a specific tobacco or smoking product is under the regulation of the DCO. They may also report any suspected violation of the DCO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

Ends/Friday, August 23, 2019
Issued at HKT 17:12

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