Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming male passenger was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (October 16) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted the incoming male passenger, aged 39, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (October 15). About 80 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $328,000 and a duty potential of about $264,000 in total, were seized from his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence imposes 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 $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).
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Scam alert related to banks
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to the press releases issued by the banks listed below relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, phishing emails or other scams, which have been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlinks to the press releases are available on theHKMA website.
Bank |
Type of scam |
The Bank of East Asia, Limited |
Fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens and phishing email |
Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited |
Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen |
OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited |
Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen |
Chong Hing Bank Limited |
Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen |
Chiyu Banking Corporation Limited |
Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens |
The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the scams concerned, should contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release, and report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
Source: AI-found images
