Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photo)

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     An incoming passenger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (November 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 on November 15 and seized 16 780 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $83,900 and a duty potential of about $55,000, from a male passenger's personal luggage. The 58-year-old 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).

Ends/Monday, November 17, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:22

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A 58-year-old incoming passenger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (November 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.