Three Passengers Sentenced for Importing Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes in Hong Kong

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

One incoming Mainland male passenger and two incoming local female passengers were sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 to ten months' imprisonment and a fine of $500 by the Courts today (July 6) for importing or possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted an incoming Mainland male passenger, aged 33, at Hong Kong International Airport on May 15 and seized 136 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $681,000 and a duty potential of about $450,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment and fined $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today.

Customs officers intercepted an incoming 80-year-old local female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on June 29 and seized 381 duty-not-paid cigarettes from her backpack. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $1,900, and the duty potential was about $1,200. The female passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,200 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.

In addition, Customs officers intercepted an incoming 30-year-old local female passenger and her accompanying child at the same control point on June 30. Officers discovered that the female passenger had concealed 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $3,000 and a duty potential of about $1,980, in the backpack carried by her accompanying child. She was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Fanling 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 importing / possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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

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

Hong Kong Customs detects dangerous drugs case and seizes suspected heroin worth about $17 million

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 5) detected a drug trafficking case involving air cargo at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and seized about 30 kilograms of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $17 million. Two persons were arrested.

Through risk assessment, Customs yesterday examined an air cargo consignment arriving from Vietnam, declared as carrying dried food, at HKIA. Upon inspection, Customs officers detected suspicious X-ray images on the consignment and found the batch of suspected heroin concealed in a foam box.

After follow-up investigations, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation on the same day and arrested two consignees in Sham Shui Po; a 41-year-old male and a 38-year-old local male, who claimed to be unemployed and a restaurant manager respectively.

An investigation of the case is ongoing.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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 dangerous drugs case and seizes suspected heroin worth about $17 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases