Two incoming passengers were each sentenced to one month's imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (September 21) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

     Customs officers intercepted an inbound private car at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday (September 20). A 40-year-old Mainland female passenger and a 41-year-old Mainland male passenger, arriving in Hong Kong from the Mainland, were arrested. A total of 4 079 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $18,000 and a duty potential of about $13,000, 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 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.

     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/Monday, September 21, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:10

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