A woman was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 29) for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
      
     During an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted at Berwick Street in Sham Shui Po on September 12 last year, Customs officers intercepted a woman, aged 66 and claiming to be unemployed, and seized about 280 000 illicit cigarettes from her hand-carry bag and two nearby subdivided flats. The estimated market value of the illicit cigarettes was about $1.25 million, and the duty potential was about $920,000.
      
     Customs welcomes the sentence. 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, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes 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, September 29, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:45

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