Three incoming female passengers were each sentenced to four weeks' to three months' imprisonment and fined a total of $2500 at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 15) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
      
     Customs officers intercepted three incoming female passengers, aged 43, 77, and 42, at the Lo Wu Control Point and the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on May 7, July 6, and July 13 respectively. A total of 31 141 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $127,000 and a duty potential of about $102,000, were seized from their personal belongings. They were subsequently arrested.
      
     Customs welcomes the sentence, which reflects that whether a passenger is a first-time offender or not, they may be imprisoned. The custodial sentence imposes 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/Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:45

NNNN