Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing / dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products (with photos)

7 Jan 2026

Three incoming male passengers were sentenced between three to four months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 7) for importing /dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs Officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

Customs officers intercepted three incoming male passengers aged 42, 38 and 31 at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (January 6). Customer officers seized about 45 000 and 44 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes from the personal baggage of the 42-year-old and the 38-year-old passengers respectively, with both market values at about $200,000 and both duty potentials at about $150,000. Also, around 5 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes with a market value of about $26,000 and a duty potential of about $20,000, and 27 000 alternative smoking products and 31 alternative smoking product devices with a market value of about $81,000 were seized from the personal baggage of the 31-year-old passenger. All three passengers were subsequently arrested.

​The 42 year-old and 38 year-old passengers were each sentenced to four months' imprisonment by the court today in contravention of the DCO while the 31 year-old passenger was sentenced to 3 months' imprisonment in contravention of the DCO and the IEO.

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, tobacco products 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/Wednesday, January 7, 2026

One incoming 42-year-old male passenger was sentenced to four months imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 7) for dealing with 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.One incoming 42-year-old male passenger was sentenced to four months imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 7) for dealing with 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.One incoming 42-year-old male passenger was sentenced to four months imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 7) for dealing with 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.
One incoming 38-year-old male passenger was sentenced to four months imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 7) for importing 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.One incoming 38-year-old male passenger was sentenced to four months imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 7) for importing 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.One incoming 38-year-old male passenger was sentenced to four months imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 7) for importing 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.
One incoming 31-year-old male passenger was sentenced to three months imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 7) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes, alternative smoking products and alternative smoking product devices seized.One incoming 31-year-old male passenger was sentenced to three months imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 7) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes, alternative smoking products and alternative smoking product devices seized.One incoming 31-year-old male passenger was sentenced to three months imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (January 7) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as for importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes, alternative smoking products and alternative smoking product devices seized.
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