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

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     An incoming passenger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (November 24) for possessing 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 29, at Hong Kong International Airport on November 23 and seized 19 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $89,000 and a duty potential of about $65,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

     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, cigarettes 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/Monday, November 24, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:30

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A 29-year-old incoming male passenger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (November 24) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized.