Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigars
Two incoming female passengers were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 21) for importing duty-not-paid cigars and failing to declare them to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted two Spanish female passengers, one 31 years old and the other 28 years old, arriving in Hong Kong from Cuba via Panama and the Netherlands, at Hong Kong International Airport on September 18 and seized about 55 kilogramsof duty-not-paid cigars, with an estimated market value of about $3.9 million and a duty potential of about $230,000 from their personal baggage. The two passengers were 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, cigars are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigars 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 passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigars Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigars Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in September
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (September 21) released the first batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in September, covering 40 survey areas, as follows:
| District | Survey Area | September 2026 |
| First Phase Gravidtrap Index | First Phase Density Index |
| Eastern | Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho | 18.3% | 1.3 |
| Kowloon City | Kowloon Tong | 4.9% | 1.0 |
| Sham Shui Po | Sham Shui Po and Shek Kip Mei | 3.3% | 1.0 |
| North | Fanling South | 4.5% | 1.0 |
| Sai Kung | Sai Kung Town | 3.8% | 1.0 |
| Kwai Tsing | Kwai Chung West | 2.2% | 1.0 |
| Lai King | 3.7% | 1.0 |
| Yuen Long | Hung Shui Kiu and Ping Shan | 0.0% | N/A |
| Yuen Long Town | 6.6% | 1.0 |
| District | Survey Area | September 2026 |
| Area Gravidtrap Index | Area Density Index |
| Central and Western | Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun | 28.3% | 1.7 |
| Southern | Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau | 17.0% | 1.4 |
| Pok Fu Lam | 5.2% | 1.5 |
| Wan Chai | Happy Valley and Tai Hang | 2.6% | 1.0 |
| Tin Hau and Causeway Bay | 2.0% | 1.0 |
| Wan Chai | 2.8% | 1.0 |
| Islands | Cheung Chau | 0.9% | 1.0 |
| Kowloon City | Kai Tak | 4.3% | 1.0 |
| Kowloon City | 3.7% | 2.0 |
| Kwun Tong | Kwun Tong Central | 1.2% | 1.0 |
| Mong Kok | Mong Kok and Tai Kok Tsui | 0.9% | 1.0 |
| Sham Shui Po | Cheung Sha Wan | 17.4% | 1.4 |
| Wong Tai Sin | Ngau Chi Wan and San Po Kong | 3.7% | 1.3 |
| Wong Tai Sin West | 1.9% | 1.0 |
| Yau Tsim | Tsim Sha Tsui and Yau Ma Tei | 1.6% | 1.0 |
| Tsim Sha Tsui East and King's Park | 8.7% | 1.3 |
| North | Sheung Shui | 12.8% | 1.0 |
| Sai Kung | Tseung Kwan O North | 5.7% | 1.2 |
| Sha Tin | Ma On Shan | 10.2% | 1.2 |
| Sha Tin Town Centre and Fo Tan | 4.7% | 1.4 |
| Tai Wai | 0.8% | 1.0 |
| Tai Po | Tai Po East | 5.9% | 1.0 |
| Tai Po West | 6.3% | 1.0 |
| Kwai Tsing | Kwai Chung East | 0.0% | N/A |
| Tsing Yi South | 6.0% | 1.3 |
| Tsuen Wan | Ma Wan and Sham Tseng | 4.7% | 1.0 |
| Tsuen Wan Town | 5.9% | 1.3 |
| Tuen Mun | So Kwun Wat | 5.5% | 1.2 |
| Tuen Mun North | 2.4% | 1.0 |
| Tuen Mun West | 4.2% | 1.0 |
| Yuen Long | Tin Shui Wai | 8.0% | 1.0 |
The FEHD continues to carry out a series of mosquito prevention and elimination measures, including:
- interdepartmental collaboration: convening special meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders (such as construction site contractors, schools and property management companies) in strengthening mosquito control work at venues;
- precise risk assessments: carrying out intensive and targeted mosquito control work at locations with more serious mosquito infestations, including stepping up inspections, eliminating mosquito breeding and potential breeding grounds, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at appropriate locations;
- promotion and education: organising exhibitions with relevant departments and stakeholders, and distributing leaflets and posters to enhance public awareness of mosquito control and prevention; and
- rapid alert mechanism: notifying residential estates that have subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, and advising property management companies and residents to stay vigilant and work together in taking mosquito prevention and elimination measures.
During the follow-up actions and following the discovery of stagnant water or stagnant water containers at three parks, three public housing estates, four private housing estates and three private premises in Central and Western District, Southern District, Sham Shui Po District and Sha Tin District, the FEHD has issued a total of 14 statutory notices to the responsible persons-in-charge, requiring the clearance of such items within a specified timeframe. Meanwhile, the FEHD has initiated a prosecution against a relevant construction site contractor following the discovery of mosquito breeding at a construction site in Central and Western District.
Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:
- tidying up their premises and checking for any accumulation of water inside the premises;
- removing all unnecessary water collections and eliminating the sources;
- checking household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;
- changing water in flower vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces thoroughly, and removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week;
- properly covering all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;
- properly disposing of articles that can contain water, such as disposable meal boxes and empty cans; and
- scrubbing drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of chikungunya fever (CF) transmission.
Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The Gravidtrap and Density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department's webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases first batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
