Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming female passenger was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,500 at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (September 6) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs o
fficers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted the incoming 59-year-old female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point yesterday (September 5) and seized 15,619 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $64,000 and a duty potential of about $51,600 from her suitcase, backpack and shopping bags. The passenger was subsequently arrested.
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 that under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who 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.
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).
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
