Four incoming air passengers were sentenced to eight to nine months' imprisonment, each with a fine of $2,000, by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts yesterday (September 16) and today (September 17) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) (Cap. 109). 

     Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a special enforcement operation to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers in recent days. Three Mainland male passengers aged 40, 22 and 36, arriving in Hong Kong from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and a Mainland male passenger aged 51, arriving in Hong Kong from Haikou, were arrested at Hong Kong International Airport. A total of about 260 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $1.17 million and a duty potential of about $860,000, 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/Thursday, September 17, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:35

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