Three incoming passengers were sentenced to between five to seven months' imprisonment and fined $500 to $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 2) for importing 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 two incoming male passengers, aged 32 and 38, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on February 3 and seized about 73 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $328,500 and a duty potential of about $241,300, from their personal baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested. They were both sentenced to seven months' imprisonment and fined $500 today.

     As well, Customs officers intercepted an incoming male passenger, aged 33, at HKIA yesterday (April 1) and seized 82 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $369,900 and a duty potential of about $271,700, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 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/Thursday, April 2, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:27

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