Local Woman Convicted and Jailed for Smuggling 581 Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes into Hong Kong

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming local female passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 10) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted an incoming 27-year-old local female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on July 3 and seized 581 duty-not-paid cigarettes from her personal baggage, with an estimated market value of about $2,900 and a duty potential of about $1,900. The female 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 local female passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 10) for possessing 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 counterfeit goods worth about $3.1 million

Hong Kong Customs on June 24 seized about 6 300 suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $3.1 million at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port.

Through risk assessment, Customs on that day intercepted an incoming lorry at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected counterfeit goods inside the cargo compartment of the lorry, including jerseys, handbags and footwear. A 59-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested.

An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit goods would have been transshipped to overseas regions.

The investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against counterfeit goods and smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting 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 seizes suspected counterfeit goods worth about $3.1 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases