​A local man and an incoming female passenger were sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment and 14 weeks' imprisonment respectively at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (August 29) for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes, and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
      
     Customs officers intercepted a 37-year-old local man who was pulling a batch of cargo with a pallet truck for inspection at the Chung Ying Street Checkpoint in Sha Tau Kok on February 24. A total of 329 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with a market value of about $1.3 million and a duty potential of about $1.1 million, were seized from 33 carton boxes of the consignment. He was subsequently arrested. The man was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes today.
      
     In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 52-year-old incoming female passenger at the Heung Yuen Wai Control Point on August 12 and seized 1 981 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with a market value of about $8,900 and a duty potential of about $6,500, from the thermal bags in her possession. The passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to 14 weeks' imprisonment for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes today.
      
     Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. 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/Friday, August 29, 2025
Issued at HKT 21:42

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