Four Sentenced for Importing Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes and Alternative Smoking Products in Hong Kong

Four incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products

Two men and two women were each sentenced to four to six months' imprisonment and fined $500 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts yesterday (April 28) and today (April 29) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

Customs officers intercepted two incoming male passengers and two incoming female passengers, aged between 28 and 37, at Hong Kong International Airport on February 28 and March 3. About 138 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and about 7 400 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $588,000 and a duty potential of about $456,000 in total, were seized from their personal baggage. They were subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

Under the DCO, tobacco products 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 $1 million and imprisonment for two 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).

Four incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Four incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Four incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Four incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Murder in Sau Mau Ping

Police are investigating a murder case happened in Sau Mau Ping on December 29 in which a woman died.

At around 9.40pm on December 29, Police received a report from the family of a 35-year-old local woman that she was found missing after leaving her residence in Sau Mau Ping in the small hours on the same day.

Upon further investigation, Police believed the woman had been to a unit in Hei Wah House, Lok Wah South Estate. Police officers located the woman in the unit yesterday (December 30) morning. Sustaining multiple injuries to her head and body, she was certified dead at scene. Initial investigation revealed that the deceased was suspectedly assaulted with a hard object.

Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the cause of death of the deceased.

Active investigation by the Regional Crime Unit of Kowloon East is under way.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 0065 or 5965 8337.

Source: AI-found images