​Two incoming passengers were both sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (December 3) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

     Customs officers intercepted an incoming male passenger, aged 36, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (December 2). About 33 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $152,000 and a duty potential of about $112,000, were seized from his personal baggage. 

     In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 38-year-old female passenger at the airport yesterday, and seized about 38 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $172,000 and a duty potential of about $126,000, from her personal baggage. 

     The two incoming passengers were subsequently arrested. They were both sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $500 by the court today.

     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/Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:30

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