An incoming male passenger was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $800 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 18) for possessing 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 (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).
                     
     Customs officers intercepted a 58-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on July 23 and seized 74 000 alternative smoking products and about 210 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes with a total estimated market value of about $222,000 and a total duty potential of about $700 from his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to one week's imprisonment and fined $800 in contravention of the DCO and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment in contravention of the IEO today. The two sentences are to run concurrently, making for a total of six months' imprisonment.
                     
     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/Thursday, September 18, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:45

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