Driver Convicted and Jailed for Smuggling $27,900 in Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes in Hong Kong

Incoming driver convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing unmanifested cargo

A 67-year-old incoming local male driver was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (July 10) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing unmanifested cargo, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

Through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Hong Kong Customs intercepted an inbound private car at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on June 26. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized 6 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes from the interior space of the front bumper of the vehicle. The male driver was subsequently arrested. The total estimated market value of the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized in the case was about $27,900, and the duty potential was about $20,500.

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, tobacco products 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.

Moreover, smuggling is a serious offence. Under the IEO, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action.

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).

A 67-year-old incoming local male driver was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (July 10) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing unmanifested cargo, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the private car concerned. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

A 67-year-old incoming local male driver was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (July 10) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing unmanifested cargo, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes concealed in the interior space of the front bumper of the private car concerned. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

A 67-year-old incoming local male driver was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (July 10) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing unmanifested cargo, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes concealed in the interior space of the front bumper of the private car concerned. 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 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 Hong Kong Port. Photo shows the suspected counterfeit goods seized, including jerseys, handbags and footwear. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases