Passenger Convicted and Jailed for Possessing Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes in Hong Kong

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (August 17) 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 private car at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday (August 16) and seized 11 600 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $52,200 and a duty potential of about $38,300, from a 30-year-old Mainland male passenger's personal luggage. The male 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 four weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (August 17) 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 concealed in the personal luggage of the 30-year-old Mainland male passenger. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (August 17) 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

TD alerts public to fraudulent vehicle airbag safety recall messages

The Transport Department (TD) today (November 14) alerted the public to fraudulent vehicle airbag safety recall messages purported to be from the TD. Members of the public should not fall prey to fraudulent government messages from unofficial means, nor provide any personal information. The case will be referred to the Police for follow-up.

A spokesman for the TD clarified that the department has no connection with the fraudulent letters or messages making unauthorised use of the department's name. At present, the TD only sets out safety recall information provided by authorised dealers of registered vehicle manufacturers on its website (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_typeapp_examination/safety_recall/index.html). The TD does not issue letters to inform individual vehicle owners of safety recalls for their vehicles. The public should verify information to avoid falling into scam traps. For enquiries, they should contact the relevant authorised agents or dealers directly.

Members of the public should stay alert when receiving messages from unknown sources, and must not log in to suspicious websites or provide personal information. Anyone who has provided personal information as such should contact the Police. For enquiries, please call the TD's hotline at 2804 2600 or email tdenq@td.gov.hk.

Source: AI-found images