Ten incoming passengers were sentenced to three to six months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts yesterday and today (March 12 and 13) for importing and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

     Hong Kong Customs mounted an enforcement operation codenamed "Clear Sky" to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers and related illicit cigarette storage centres between March 3 and 11, and arrested 10 incoming air passengers, aged between 29 and 63, for importing and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes at the airport on March 11. A total of about 550 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $2.5 million and a duty potential of about $1.8 million were seized from their personal baggage. The passengers were sentenced to three to six months' imprisonment in contravention of the DCO yesterday and today respectively.

     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 and travellers 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/Friday, March 13, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:35

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