Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming passenger was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (June 8) 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 the 37-year-old incoming male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (June 7) and seized 31 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $159,000 and a duty potential of about $105,100, 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.
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
Commissioner of Customs and Excise meets Director General in Huangpu Customs District
The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, today (June 8) welcomed the visit by
the Director General in the Huangpu Customs District, Mr Jin Hai, and his delegation. The two sides also held a meeting to exchange views on deepening collaboration between the two Customs administrations.
During the meeting between Mr Chan and the Huangpu Customs delegation, both sides engaged in detailed discussions and exchanges on matters including strengthening co-operation on trade facilitation measures between the two Customs administrations, as well as optimising cross-boundary intermodal transportation.
On the same day, the two signed a Memorandum of Co-operation (MoC) regarding the inspection and quarantine of air-to-sea transhipments of fresh fruits to the Chinese Mainland via Hong Kong. It is agreed under the MoC that Hong Kong Customs will issue Certificates for Transhipment Confirmation for fruit transhipments in non-original air cargo containers to be imported to Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) Dongguan Logistics Park via HKIA to confirm there is no irregularity found in their outer packaging and comply with the Chinese Mainland's inspection and quarantine regulatory requirements. The MoC will take effect from November 1, 2026. It is expected to deepen collaboration in clearance and quarantine operations, as well as promote high-quality development of the cold chain trade in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The delegation also visited the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link to learn about the operations of passenger clearance of Hong Kong Customs; and visitedthe Customs Marine Base on Stonecutters Island, taking a ride on a sector patrol launch to visit sea-borne smuggling black spots to learn about its maritime patrol and enforcement work.
Commissioner of Customs and Excise meets Director General in Huangpu Customs District Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Commissioner of Customs and Excise meets Director General in Huangpu Customs District Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Commissioner of Customs and Excise meets Director General in Huangpu Customs District Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Commissioner of Customs and Excise meets Director General in Huangpu Customs District Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Commissioner of Customs and Excise meets Director General in Huangpu Customs District Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
