Passenger Jailed for 38 Days and Fined $500 for Smuggling Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes in Hong Kong

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to 38 days' imprisonment with a fine of $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 6) 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 an incoming male passenger, aged 53, at Hong Kong International Airport on January 5. About 5 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $22,000 and a duty potential of about $18,000 were seized from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. 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 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

Unconscious person in custody dies in hospital

A 22-year-old female person in custody who had been found unconscious in Lo Wu Correctional Institution died in a public hospital yesterday (January 8).

The person in custody suffered from mental illness. She required continuous medical care and follow-up at a public hospital. At 5.50pm yesterday, the person in custody was found unconscious in a cell by a correctional officer. The officer immediately called for reinforcement to provide first-aid treatment to her, and an ambulance was called at once to send her to a public hospital for further rescue. She remained unconscious after being sent to the public hospital. Her condition deteriorated and she was certified dead at 7.12pm yesterday.

The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner's Court.

The person in custody was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of theft in December 2025.

Source: AI-found images