Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming female passenger was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment and fined $4,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (February 13) 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 37-year-old incoming female passenger and her accompanying child at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on February 5 and seized 2 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes on her and from the backpack carried by the child, with an estimated market value of about $9,800 and a duty potential of about $7,900. The female 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. 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 importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects suspected food smuggling case
Hong Kong Customs on February 11 detected a suspected food smuggling case and seized approximately 4 800 kilograms of suspected illegally imported food with a total estimated market value of about $400,000.
Hong Kong Customs, based on intelligence analysis, speculated that some persons would illegally import frozen meat into Hong Kong from the Chinese Mainland side of Chung Ying Street in Sha Tou Kok. Customs officers on that day took action and intercepted a male suspected of illegally importing frozen meat into Hong Kong and two suspicious vehicles, and searched a warehouse. The batch of suspected smuggled food, including 1 200kg of frozen meat and 3 600kg of other food items, was seized during the operation.
During the operation, Hong Kong Customs arrested a male suspected of illegally importing frozen meat into Hong Kong, two male truck drivers and a female warehouse manager, aged between 38 and 61. They have been released on bail pending further investigation.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, 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 Import and Export (General) Regulations, it is an offence to import frozen or chilled meat into Hong Kong without an import licence issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). An offender shall be liable on conviction to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
According to the Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations (Cap. 132AK), it is an offence to bring any game, meat, poultry or eggs into Hong Kong without a health certificate issued by an issuing entity of the place of origin and/or without prior written permission granted by the FEHD. An offender shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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).
Hong Kong Customs detects suspected food smuggling case Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects suspected food smuggling case Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects suspected food smuggling case Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
