Two incoming male passengers were each sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (June 12) 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 two male passengers, aged 35 and 39, at Hong Kong International Airport on May 21 and seized 238 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of $1,190,000 and a duty potential of about $786,800 in total, from their personal baggage. They were subsequently arrested.

     Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

     Under the DCO, tobacco products 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/Friday, June 12, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:45

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