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

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An incoming male passenger was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (October 16) for importing 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 male passenger, aged 39, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (October 15). About 80 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $328,000 and a duty potential of about $264,000 in total, were seized from his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested.

     Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence imposes 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 $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, October 16, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:06

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A 39-year-old incoming male passenger was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (October 16) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized.