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Two incoming air passengers convicted and jailed for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photos)
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     Two incoming air passengers were each sentenced to five months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on July 4 for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) (Cap. 109). One of them was also fined $1,000. 

     Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a special enforcement operation to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers. The two incoming Mainland male passengers aged 22 and 28, arriving in Hong Kong from Osaka, Japan, were arrested at Hong Kong International Airport on June 24. A total of about 71 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 16 kilograms manufactured tobacco, with an estimated market value of about $420,000 and a duty potential of about $300,000, were seized from their personal baggage.

     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 and travellers that under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
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     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
 
Ends/Monday, July 6, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:16
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Two incoming air passengers were each sentenced to five months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on July 4 for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109). One of them was also fined $1,000. Photo shows the illicit cigarettes seized from the personal baggage of one of the incoming air passengers.
Two incoming air passengers were each sentenced to five months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on July 4 for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109). One of them was also fined $1,000. Photo shows the illicit cigarettes and manufactured tobacco seized from the personal baggage of one of the incoming air passengers.