Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products (with photo)

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     An incoming Chinese female passenger was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (June 25) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as 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 40-year-old Chinese female passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (June 24) and seized about 39 900 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 10 800 ASPs, with a total estimated market value of about $212,000 and a duty potential of about $132,000 from her personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

     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, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys duty-not-paid tobacco 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/Thursday, June 25, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:00

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An incoming Chinese female passenger was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (June 25) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products (ASPs), in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes and ASPs seized.