A 46-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman were sentenced respectively to imprisonment for 14 weeks and fined $2,000 on January 5 and imprisonment for 15 days suspended for one year and fined $3,500 today (January 23) at Fanling Magistrates' Courts for conspiracy to export powdered formula and dealing with illicit cigarettes, in contravention of the Import and Export Ordinance and Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.

     In May 2016, Hong Kong Customs found the woman distributing powdered formula to the man for export into the Mainland and taking over suspected illicit cigarettes from the man at the restricted area of Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. They were arrested and about 73 kilograms of powdered formula with an estimated market value of about $18,000 and 1 220 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $3,000 and a duty potential of about $2,000 were seized.

     Under the Import and Export (General)(Amendment) Regulation 2013, it is an offence to export powdered formula, including milk powder and soya milk powder, for infants and children under 36 months without a licence. To allow a reasonable quantity for personal use, the prohibition does not apply to powdered formula not exceeding 1.8kg in total net weight that is exported in the accompanied personal baggage of a person leaving Hong Kong. However, the person must be aged 16 or above and must not have left Hong Kong in the previous 24 hours. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.

Ends/Monday, January 23, 2017
Issued at HKT 12:45

NNNN