Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
Two incoming passengers were respectively sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $4,000 and four weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (March 20) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted a 36-year-old incoming female passenger and an accompanying 38-year-old incoming male passenger on February 4 at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. The officers found a total of 2 962 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes on them. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $12,000, and the duty potential was about $9,800. They were subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect 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
Hong Kong Customs special operation combats sale of counterfeit hard disks and memory cards by computer storage device distributor
Hong Kong Customs mounted a special enforcement operation yesterday (March 19) in Tuen Mun to combat the sale of counterfeit computer storage devices by a computer storage device distributor, and seized about 17 000 items of suspected counterfeit computer storage devices, including about14 000 pieces of hard disks and about3 000 pieces of memory cards, with a total estimated market value of about $25 million. One person was arrested.
Customs earlier received information from the trademark owner representative, alleging that a computer storage device distributor was offering counterfeit computer storage devices for sale in the market. After a comprehensive investigation and with the assistance of the trademark owner, Customs officers took enforcement action yesterday and searched an industrial unit in Tuen Mun. Upon a follow-up investigation, another industrial unit in the same building was searched. A 42-year-old man was arrested and the batch of suspected counterfeit computer storage devices, and materials and tools for packing were seized.
The arrested person has been detained for investigation. The investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs will continue to step up inspections and enforcement to vigorously combat the sale of different kinds of counterfeit goods.
Customs reminds consumers to procure goods at reputable shops and check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt. Traders should also be cautious and prudent in merchandising since selling counterfeit goods is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting 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 special operation combats sale of counterfeit hard disks and memory cards by computer storage device distributor Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs special operation combats sale of counterfeit hard disks and memory cards by computer storage device distributor Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs special operation combats sale of counterfeit hard disks and memory cards by computer storage device distributor Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
