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Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photos)
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     ​An incoming male passenger was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (December 29) 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 an 83-year-old incoming male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on December 23, and seized 400 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1,600 and a duty potential of about $1,300 from the inner pockets of a vest worn by him. He 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, December 29, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:45
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An 83-year-old incoming male passenger was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (December 29) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the man using the inner pockets of a vest worn by him to conceal the duty-not-paid cigarettes.
An 83-year-old incoming male passenger was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (December 29) 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 and a vest seized.