Two Mainland Passengers Jailed for Importing Duty-Not-Paid Cigarettes at Airport

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

Two incoming Mainland passengers were sentenced to ten months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000, and eight months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000, respectively by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today today (August 27) 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 an incoming Mainland female passenger, aged 42, at Hong Kong International Airport on August 7 and seized about 130 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $588,600 and a duty potential of about $432,400, from her personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested and was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 today.

In addition, Customs officers intercepted an incoming Mainland male passenger, aged 41, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (August 26). About 76 800 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were seized from his personal baggage. The estimated market value was about $384,000, and the duty potential was about $253,900. He was subsequently arrested and was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 today.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have 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).

Two incoming Mainland passengers were sentenced to ten months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000, and eight months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000, respectively at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today today (August 27) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows some of the illicit cigarettes seized from the personal baggage of the incoming 41-year-old Mainland male passenger. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming Mainland passengers were sentenced to ten months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000, and eight months' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000, respectively at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today today (August 27) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the illicit cigarettes seized from the personal baggage of the incoming 42-year-old Mainland female passenger. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 27) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing an alternative smoking product, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

Customs officers intercepted a 20-year-old incoming Mainland male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (August 26) and seized 75 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 7 600 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $364,100 and a duty potential of about $247,900 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.

Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong 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 air passenger was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 27) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products seized in the case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases