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

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     An incoming female passenger was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 12) 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 the incoming female passenger, aged 48, at Hong Kong International Airport on June 4. About 43 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $179,000 and a duty potential of about $145,000, were seized from her personal baggage. She was subsequently arrested.

     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 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.

     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, August 12, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:00

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An incoming 48-year-old female passenger was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 12) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized.