Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products (with photo)

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     Two incoming male passengers were both sentenced to five months and two weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,500 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 25) for possessing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs Officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance.

     Customs officers intercepted two incoming male passengers, aged 31 and 36, at Hong Kong International Airport on June 26. About 14 500 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, 122 400 alternative smoking products and four alternative smoking product devices were seized from their personal baggages. The total estimated market value was about $433,000, and the total duty potential was about $48,000. They were subsequently arrested.

     Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, 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.

     Under the Import and Export Ordinance, a 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).

Ends/Monday, August 25, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:50

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Two incoming male passengers, aged 31 and 36, were both sentenced to five months and two weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,500 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 25) for possessing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs Officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows some of the duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products seized.