​Three incoming passengers were sentenced by the courts today (March 23) to 12 weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,800; two months' imprisonment and fined $1,500; and six months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively 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 incoming 75-year-old male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on March 21 and seized 1 781 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $7,300 and a duty potential of about $5,800, from his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,800 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.
      
     On the same day, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old incoming female passenger and her accompanying teenager at the Lo Wu Control Point and seized 5 781 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $24,000 and a duty potential of about $19,000, from their personal baggage. The female passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.
      
     In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 43-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (March 22) and seized about 67 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $302,000 and a duty potential of about $222,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' 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, March 23, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:00

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