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

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     An incoming Chinese male passenger was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (July 3) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, 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 a 25-year-old incoming Chinese male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on April 17, and seized about 27 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 11 008 ASPs, with a total estimated market value of about $194,600 and a duty potential of about $91,200 from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $500 today.

     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.

     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/Friday, July 3, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:35

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An incoming Chinese male passenger was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (July 3) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for 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 the ASPs seized.