Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming male passenger was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (July 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 a 23-year-old incoming Mainland male passenger who arrived in Hong Kong from Laos, via Shanghai, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (July 7) and seized 53 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $220,000 and a duty potential of about $177,800, 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).
An incoming male passenger was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (July 8) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected scheduled endangered live tortoises and lizards
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 16) seized 36 live tortoises and eight live lizards of suspected scheduled endangered species at Hong Kong International Airport, with an estimated market value of about $550,000.
Two Korean male passengers, aged 24 and 30, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. They were intercepted for customs clearance at the arrivals hall of the airport. Customs officers found the batch of tortoises and lizards contained in plastic boxes inside their carry-on baggage. Upon inspection by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the batch of tortoises and lizards was suspected to be of endangered species listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong.
The case has been handed over to the AFCD for follow-up action. Hong Kong Customs reminds the public not to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.
Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline182 8080or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected scheduled endangered live tortoises and lizards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected scheduled endangered live tortoises and lizards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected scheduled endangered live tortoises and lizards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected scheduled endangered live tortoises and lizards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
