Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photo)

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     An incoming male passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $800 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (May 28) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare it to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

     Customs intercepted an incoming 32-year-old male passenger at the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui yesterday (May 27) for Customs clearance. Four thousand two hundred sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $17,200 and a duty potential of about $13,900, were seized from a suitcase carried by him. The male passenger was subsequently arrested.

     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 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.

     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/Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:40

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An incoming male passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $800 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (May 28) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare it to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized from a suitcase carried by the male passenger.