Public rental housing unit tenant convicted and jailed for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photos)
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During an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Fung Wah Estate, Chai Wan, on September 10, Customs officers intercepted a 56-year-old local man, and seized from his belongings and the PRH unit a total of 16 900 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $76,000 and a duty potential of about $56,000. The male PRH unit tenant was also arrested immediately.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
If a PRH unit is found to be involved in offences related to illicit cigarettes, Customs will notify the Housing Department after the court concludes the case so that follow-up action can be taken in accordance with the terms of the tenancy agreement or the Marking Scheme for Estate Management Enforcement in Public Housing Estates, which may include allotment of points or termination of tenancy.
Customs will continue the multipronged enforcement strategy to vigorously combat illicit cigarette activities. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, anyone involved in 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.
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, October 8, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:35
Issued at HKT 11:35
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