Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and possessing pharmaceutical injections containing Part I poisons (with photos)
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Customs officers intercepted a 24-year-old incoming Mainland male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on June 24 and seized 41 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $209,000 and a duty potential of about $138,000, as well as two pieces of pharmaceutical injections containing Part I poisons, with an estimated market value of about $5,000, from his 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, 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 PPO, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two 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/en/).
Ends/Friday, August 21, 2026
Issued at HKT 22:07
Issued at HKT 22:07
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