Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products
An incoming Chinese male passenger was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (July 3) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products (ASPs),in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).
Customs officers intercepted a 25-year-old incoming Chinese male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on April 17, and seized about 27 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 11 008 ASPs, with a total estimated market value of about $194,600 and a duty potential of about $91,200 from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $500 today.
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 Chinese male passenger was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with a fine of $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (July 3) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for 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
Hong Kong Customs detects suspected infringing case involving unauthorised communication of copyright works to public
Hong Kong Customs mounted an enforcement operation yesterday (July 3) to combat activities involving the suspected unauthorised communication of copyright works to the public. A total of two suspected illicit streaming devices with an estimated market value of about $1,300 were seized during the operation.
Customs earlier received information from a copyright owner alleging that an online shop was offering illicit streaming devices to customers, including television set-top boxes and designated applications for viewing infringing copyright contents, which were suspected of communicating copyright works to the public without authorisation.
After an in-depth investigation and with the assistance of the copyright owner, Customs officers arrested a 39-year-old local man in Kwun Tong district and seized the batch of suspected illicit streaming devices.
An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs reminds members of the public not to participate in activities involving the unauthorised communication of copyright works to the public. Members of the public should also respect intellectual property rights and refrain from purchasing illicit streaming devices. They are advised to be vigilant against cybersecurity risks arising from the use of such devices and designated applications.
Under the Copyright Ordinance, any person who, without the authorisation of the copyright owner, communicates a copyright work to the public for the purpose of or in the course of any trade or business that consists of communicating works to the public for profit or reward; or communicates the work to the public to such an extent as to affect prejudicially the copyright owner, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is imprisonment for four years and a fine of $50,000 in respect of each copyright work.
Members of the public may report any suspected infringing 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 detects suspected infringing case involving unauthorised communication of copyright works to public Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
