Two incoming passengers were sentenced to five months' and six months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (February 16) for dealing with and 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 incoming male passenger, aged 36, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on February 14, and seized about 91 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $372,300 and a duty potential of about $300,200, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Courts today.
      
     As well, Customs officers intercepted an incoming female passenger, aged 42, at HKIA on the same day, and seized about 74 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $302,500 and a duty potential of about $243,900, from her personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Courts today.
      
     Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect 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, February 16, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:11

NNNN