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Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photos)
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     ​Three incoming passengers were sentenced to three to ten months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 each by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 23) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

     The first case invloved a 40-year-old incoming male passenger. During customs clearance, Customs officers seized 145 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $652,500 and a duty potential of about $479,300, from his personal baggage at Hong Kong International Airport on April 14. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 today.

     The second case involved a 20-year-old incoming male passenger. During customs clearance, Customs officers seized 64 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $322,000 and a duty potential of about $212,900, from his personal baggage at Hong Kong International Airport on April 21. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 today.

     The third case involved a 29-year-old incoming male passenger. During customs clearance, Customs officers seized 12 588 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $56,600 and a duty potential of about $41,600, from his personal baggage at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (April 22). The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to three 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 23, 2026
Issued at HKT 21:45
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Three incoming passengers were sentenced to three to ten months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 each by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 23) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized in the first case.
Three incoming passengers were sentenced to three to ten months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 each by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 23) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized in the second case.
Three incoming passengers were sentenced to three to ten months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 each by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 23) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized in the third case.