Two men convicted and jailed for importing and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes
A local man and an incoming male passenger were sentenced to four months' imprisonment and six weeks' imprisonment respectively by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (September 3) for importing and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes, as well as for failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO) and the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old local man, who was carrying a batch of goods on a bike, for inspection at the Chung Ying Street Checkpoint in Sha Tau Kok on April 10. Upon inspection, a total of 37 237 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were seized from eight carton boxes of the consignment and a shoulder bag carried by the man. The man was subsequently arrested. The estimated market value of the duty-not-paid cigarettes was about $186,000 and the duty potential was about $123,000. He was sentenced to four months' imprisonment today.
In addition, Customs officers intercepted an incoming 62-year-old male passenger at the Lo Wu Control Point yesterday (September 2) and seized 2 227 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $9,100 and a duty potential of about $7,400 from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment today.
Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
Customs reminds members of the public not to defy the law. Under the IEO, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
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 $1 million and imprisonment for two 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).
Two men convicted and jailed for importing and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Two men convicted and jailed for importing and possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
