Two incoming passengers were sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000, and four weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $800 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (December 12) for importing goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) applies, possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of DCO.
Customs officers intercepted a 40-year-old incoming male passenger and his accompanying child on December 5 at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. The officers found a total of 2,381 duty-not-paid cigarettes on the man and from the backpack carried by the child. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $9,700 and the duty potential was about $7,800. The male passenger was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,000.
In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old incoming female passenger at the same control point on December 10, and seized 1,600 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $6,500 and a duty potential of about $5,200, from a backpack in her possession. The female passenger was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $800.
Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. 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/Friday, December 12, 2025
