​Five incoming passengers were sentenced to six weeks' to four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the Magistrates' Courts today (June 15) for possessing or importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), as well as for importing alternative smoking products (ASPs), in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

     Customs officers intercepted an incoming 46-year-old Chinese female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on June 13 and seized 2 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes from her personal baggage, with an estimated market value of about $10,600 and a duty potential of about $8,500. She was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (June 15).

     Customs officers intercepted an incoming 29-year-old Chinese male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on June 13, and seized 190 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 28 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $84,700 and a duty potential of about $600 from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to four months' of imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today.

     Additionally, Customs officers intercepted three incoming Chinese male passenger, aged 31, 37 and 40 respectively at the airport yesterday (June 14). Customs officers seized 16 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with a market value of about $84,000 and a duty potential of about $55,000, and 16 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with a market value of about $84,000 and a duty potential of about $55,000, as well as 17400 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 27 ASPs, with a market value of about $87,000 and a duty potential of about $57,000, from their personal baggage respectively. The three passengers were subsequently arrested. They were each sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts 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.

     Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong 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, June 15, 2026
Issued at HKT 21:45

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