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Two Incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photos)
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     Two incoming passengers were sentenced to four months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 and five months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 27) for importing 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 male passenger, aged 30, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on April 25. Customs officers seized about 41 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $167,300 and a duty potential of about $134,900, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 for contravening the DCO today.

     Additionally, Customs officers intercepted one male passenger, aged 31, at HKIA yesterday (April 26). Customs officers seized about 50 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $225,000 and a duty potential of about $165,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 for contravening the DCO 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, April 27, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:32
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Two incoming passengers were sentenced to four months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 and five months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 27) 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 from the personal baggage of a 30-year-old incoming male passenger.
Two incoming passengers were sentenced to four months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 and five months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (April 27) 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 from the personal baggage of a 31-year-old incoming male passenger.