An incoming male passenger was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (October 2) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

     Customs officers intercepted a 45-year-old incoming Mainland male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Tokyo, Japan, at Hong Kong International Airport on September 30 and seized 7 008 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 40 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $235,000 and a duty potential of about $23,000, 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, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys duty-not-paid tobacco 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, October 2, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:37

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