Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photos)

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     Two incoming male passengers were both sentenced to 5 months' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (December 20) for possession of dutiable cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

     During an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted by Customs officers and Customs detector dog at Hong Kong International Airport on December 18, two incoming male passengers, aged 30 and 35, were intercepted and about 99 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes were seized from their personal baggage, with an estimated market value of about $444,000 and a duty potential of about $326,000. The passengers were subsequently arrested. They were both sentenced to 5 months' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today.

     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/Saturday, December 20, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:05

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A 30-year-old incoming male passenger was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (December 20) for possession of 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.

A 35-year-old incoming male passenger was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (December 20) for possession of 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.