​An incoming male passenger was sentenced to a total of 10 weeks' imprisonment and fined $3,300 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (May 20) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
      
     Customs officers first intercepted the 74-year-old incoming male passenger at the Lo Wu Control Point on April 13 and seized 2 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes from his luggage. The male passenger was subsequently arrested, charged and released on bail pending trial. The man later re-entered Hong Kong at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on April 17. Customs officers further seized 2 988 duty-not-paid cigarettes from his luggage. The male passenger was subsequently arrested again and charged. A total of 4 988 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated total market value of about $20,450 and a total duty potential of about $16,489 were seized in the two interceptions.
      
     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/Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:26

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