Passenger Convicted and Jailed for Importing Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes and Alternative Smoking Products into Hong Kong

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (May 29) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products (ASPs), in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

Customs officers intercepted an incoming male passenger, aged 24, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (May 28), and seized 39 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 7 000 ASPs, with an estimated market value of about $181,700 and a duty potential of about $129,600 from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. 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.

Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong 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).

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (May 29) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products (ASPs), in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes and the ASPs seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Fatal traffic accident in Kwai Chung

Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Kwai Chung yesterday (June 1), in which a man died.

Police received a report at 2.50pm yesterday that a bus driven by a 60-year-old man was travelling along Tung Chi Street, turning right towards Shek Yam Road. When approaching 116 Shek Yam Road, it reportedly knocked down the 60-year-old man who was riding a bicycle.

The 60-year-old male cyclist was trapped under the bus and rescued by firemen. Sustaining multiple injuries, he was rushed to Yan Chai Hospital in unconscious state and later transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital. He was certified dead at 6.08pm on the same day.

The bus driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.

Investigation by the Special Investigation Team 1 of Traffic, New Territories South is under way.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers. The contact number is 3661 1346.

Source: AI-found images