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Man convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes using cross-boundary private car (with photos)
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     A 52-year-old man was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (April 18) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes using a cross-boundary private car, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

     Through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Hong Kong Customs intercepted an inbound private car at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday (April 17). Upon inspection, Customs officers seized a total of 8 520 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes inside the front bumper of the private car. The 52-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested. The estimated market value of the cigarettes seized in the case was about $42,000, and the duty potential was about $28,000.

     Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects 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/Saturday, April 18, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:28
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A 52-year-old man was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (April 18) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes using a cross-boundary private car, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized.
A 52-year-old man was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (April 18) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes using a cross-boundary private car, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes concealed inside the front bumper of the private car.