Two Passengers Sentenced to Six Months for Smuggling $372,000 in Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes at Hong Kong Airport

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes

One incoming male passenger and one incoming female passenger were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (March 13) for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted a 24-year-old male passenger and a 34-year-old female passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on November 19, 2025. A total of about 82 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes with a total estimated market value of about $372,000 and a duty potential of about $273,000 in total, were seized from their personal baggage. They were subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect 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).

One incoming male passenger and one incoming female passenger were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (March 13) for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO). Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

Civil aviation authorities of Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao sign Cooperation Arrangements to enhance aviation safety and efficiency

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the Civil Aviation Department (CAD)ofthe Hong Kong Special Administrative Regionand the Civil Aviation Authority of the Macao Special Administrative Region (AACM) today (April 30) signed four Cooperation Arrangements, namely the Cooperation Arrangement on Mutual Acceptance of Type Certificates (TCCA), the Cooperation Arrangement on Type Certification of the C929 Aircraft (C929CA), the Amendment to the Cooperation Arrangement on Joint Maintenance Management, and the Cooperation Arrangement on Airworthiness Management of Aviation Fuels and Chemicals, at the Hong Kong CAD headquarters. The Cooperation Arrangements were signed by Deputy Administrator of the CAAC Mr Hu Zhenjiang; the Director-General of the CAD, Mr Victor Liu; and the President of the AACM, Mr Stanley Pun.

The three civil aviation authorities have been working closely over the years and have signed a number of co-operation agreements, achieving mutual recognition of airworthiness certification, aircraft maintenance and training organisations, and aircraft maintenance licences. Building on the foundation of existing collaboration, the new Cooperation Arrangements further extend the scope of mutual recognition to aircraft type certification, certification of aviation fuel and chemical products, and overseas aircraft maintenance and training organisations approved by the three authorities. The C929CA maintains the collaboration established for the certification of the C919 aircraft. The CAD will continue to actively participate in the type certification work of the C929 aircraft, thereby contributing more proactively to the nation's aviation development.

Mr Liu said, "The signing of the Cooperation Arrangements marks another significant milestone in the ongoing co-operation between the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao in the aviation aspect. The TCCA covers conventional aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems and other unconventional aircraft. Hong Kong will continue to give full play to the role of a 'super connector' and 'super value-adder', seizing the valuable opportunities brought by the National 15th Five-Year Plan."

Civil aviation authorities of Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao sign Cooperation Arrangements to enhance aviation safety and efficiency Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases