Three incoming passengers were sentenced to six to nine months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (October 16) 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 an incoming Mainland male passenger, aged 40, and two incoming Mainland female passengers, aged 42 and 38, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (October 15) and seized 146 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 6 000 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $680,000 and a duty potential of about $480,000, from their personal baggage. The three passengers were subsequently arrested.

     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.

     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 16, 2026
Issued at HKT 20:34

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