Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
Two incoming passengers were each sentenced to seven months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (July 18) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) (Cap. 109).
Customs officers intercepted two inbound private cars at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port on July 17. A 38-year-old Mainland female passenger and a 32-year-old Mainland male passenger, arriving in Hong Kong from Macao were arrested. A total of 88 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $450,000 and a duty potential of about $290,000, were seized from their personal baggage.
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 and travellers that under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying 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, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Two incoming passengers were sentenced to seven months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on July 18 for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109). Photo shows the illicit cigarettes seized from the personal baggage of the 32-year-old Mainland male passenger. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Two incoming passengers were sentenced to seven months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on July 18 for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109). Photo shows the illicit cigarettes seized from the personal baggage of the 38-year-old Mainland female passenger. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 18) and today (July 19) detected three drug trafficking cases involving incoming air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about seven kilograms of suspected cannabis buds, about 15kg of suspected ketamine, about 1kg of suspected cocaine and 587 tablets of suspected Part I poison, with a total estimated market value of about $7.9 million. A man and two women were arrested.
In the first case, a 33-year-old local female arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.3 million inside her check-in baggage. The woman was subsequently arrested.
In the second case, a 49-year-old Taiwan female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Brussels, Belgium, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $5.9 million inside her check-in baggage, and the batch of suspected Part I poison inside her carry-on tote bag. The woman was subsequently arrested.
In the third case, a 48-year-old Japanese male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a batch of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $0.7 million in the shoes worn by him. He was subsequently arrested.
The arrested woman in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and the case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (July 20). The investigations of the second and the third case are 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 to 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.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
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.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
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 three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
