Incoming driver convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photos)

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     A 43-year-old incoming male driver was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (May 2) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

     Through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Hong Kong Customs intercepted an inbound private car, declared to be empty, at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port on December 11, 2024. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized 86 000 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes at the boot, rear seats and under the front passenger's seat of the vehicle. The driver was subsequently arrested, and the private car was also seized. The estimated market value of the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized in the case was about $430,000, and the duty potential was about $280,000.

     Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Ends/Friday, May 2, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:53

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A 43-year-old incoming male driver was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (May 2) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized and the private car concerned in the case.