Three Passengers Sentenced for Smuggling Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes in Hong Kong Customs Crackdown

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes

Three incoming passengers were sentenced by the courts today (March 23) to 12 weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,800; two months' imprisonment and fined $1,500; and six months' imprisonment and fined $1,000respectivelyfor possessing 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 75-year-old male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on March 21 and seized 1 781 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $7,300 and a duty potential of about $5,800, from his personal baggage. He was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,800 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.

On the same day, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old incoming female passenger and her accompanying teenager at the Lo Wu Control Point and seized 5 781 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $24,000 and a duty potential of about $19,000, from their personal baggage. The female passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.

In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 43-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (March 22) and seized about 67 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $302,000 and a duty potential of about $222,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today.

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).

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment convenes second meeting

The Secretary for Security,Mr Tang Ping-keung, chaired the second meeting of the Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment today (March 23). At the meeting, the Task Force followed up on the latest situation of illegal employment, including crime trends relating to illegal employment in individual key industries. The Task Force also reviewed the implementation of various measures to combat illegal employment.

The Convenor of the Task Force, Mr Tang, said, "Since the establishment of the Task Force in September last year, the Government has been stepping up efforts to combat illegal employment. During the five-month period from October 2025 to February 2026, over 10 000 operations against illegal workers were conducted, with the monthly average increasing by nearly 30 per cent as compared with that of the first three quarters in 2025. During the operations, around 520 illegal workers and around 200 employers or aiders and abettors were arrested, yielding notable results. At the same time, law enforcement agencies have strengthened publicity for anti-illegal worker enforcement actions to achieve a deterrent effect."

"On intelligence collection, the Immigration Department (ImmD) launched a Dedicated Hotline for Reporting Illegal Workers (Reporting Hotline) in September 2025 and provided new reporting means through WeChat and the 'iAM Smart' mobile application. To further facilitate the public in making reports, the ImmD has simplified the Reporting Hotline today by replacing the original number 3861 5000 with 185 185, which is easier to remember, with a view to encouraging members of the public to combat illegal employment together," Mr Tang added.

The Task Force will continue to closely monitor crime trends in illegal employment, formulate and adjust response strategies in a timely manner, and combat illegal employment in multiple key industries in a targeted manner, to safeguard employment opportunities for the local workforce.

Established by the Security Bureau in September 2025, the Task Force aims to enhance interdepartmental co-ordination to combat illegal employment under a multipronged approach. Members of the Task Force include the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Labour Department and the Transport Department.

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