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Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products (with photos)
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     Three incoming passengers were sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $900, seven months' imprisonment and fined $1,000, and four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (March 9) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).
      
     Customs officers intercepted a 33-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on March 7. About 34 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $153,000 and a duty potential of about $112,300, as well as 10 000 heat sticks with an estimated market value of about $30,000 were seized from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $900 in contravention of the DCO, and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment in contravention of the IEO today. The sentences run concurrently.

     As well, Customs officers intercepted two male passengers, aged 60 and aged 44 respectively, at HKIA yesterday (March 8). About 49 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $201,000 and a duty potential of about $162,100 were seized from the former's personal baggage, while about 28 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $128,000 and a duty potential of about $94,000 were seized from the latter's personal baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested. They were sentenced to seven months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 and four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively in contravention of the DCO 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, 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.
      
     Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong 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, March 9, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:15
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Three incoming passengers were sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $900, seven months' imprisonment and fined $1,000, and four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (March 9) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes and heat sticks seized from the personal baggage of a 33-year-old male passenger.
Three incoming passengers were sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $900, seven months' imprisonment and fined $1,000, and four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (March 9) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized from the personal baggage of a 60-year-old male passenger.
Three incoming passengers were sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $900, seven months' imprisonment and fined $1,000, and four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (March 9) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized from the personal baggage of a 44-year-old male passenger.