Two incoming passengers were sentenced to nine weeks imprisonment and six weeks imprisonment and fined $2,000 respectively by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (March 5) 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 a 60-year-old incoming female passenger at Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point (HYWBCP) on January 22 and seized 437 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of $1,966 and a duty potential of $1,444 from her personal baggage. She was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to nine weeks' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the courts today.
      
     In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 63-year-old incoming male passenger at the HYWBCP on January 23 and seized 181 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of $814 and a duty potential of about $598 from his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the courts today.
      
     Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed 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/en).

Ends/Thursday, March 5, 2026
Issued at HKT 23:20

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