Two incoming passengers were each sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $3,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (March 19) 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 a 48-year-old incoming female passenger and a 56-year-old incoming male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on March 13 and seized 1 381 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 1 391 duty-not-paid cigarettes from them respectively, with a total estimated market value of about $11,000 and a total duty potential of about $9,100. They were subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect 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).
