Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming male passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (January 7) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted a 49-year-old incoming male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on December 28, 2025, and seized 2 621 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $10,000 and a duty potential of about $8,600 from his personal baggage. He 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. Members of the public should not defy the law.
Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes 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 possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
Two incoming passengers were sentenced to four months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,200, andthree months' imprisonment, respectively by the courts today (January 8) 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 a 41-year-old incoming female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on August 31, 2025, and seized 10 880 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $44,000 and a duty potential of about $35,000 from her personal baggage. She was subsequently arrested and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,200 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.
In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 39-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on January 6. About 8 080 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $36,000 and a duty potential of about $27,000 were seized from the inner pockets of his jacket and his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts 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 that under the DCO, cigarettes 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).
Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
