An incoming male passenger was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (May 16) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).
      
     Customs officer arrested a 49-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on February 17. A total of about 25 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and about 113 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $420,000 and a duty potential of about $83,000 in total, were seized from his personal baggage.
      
     Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
      
     Under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys duty-not-paid tobacco commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
      
     Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
      
     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/en).

Ends/Friday, May 16, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:15

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