Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing/importing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photos)

Three incoming passengers were sentenced to four weeks' to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the Magistrates' Courts today (June 11) for possessing or importing 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 69-year-old female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on May 28 and seized 181 duty-not-paid cigarettes from her. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $700, and the duty potential was about $600. She was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.
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In addition, Customs officers intercepted an incoming 56-year-old male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (June 10). Customs officers seized about 34 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $140,000 and a duty potential of about $113,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. He was sentenced to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today.

Furthermore, Customs officers on the same day intercepted an incoming 49-year-old female passenger at the airport, seizing 34 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $140,000 and a duty potential of about $112,000, from her personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested. She was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today.

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).

Three incoming passengers were sentenced to four weeks' to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the Magistrates' Courts today (June 11) for possessing or importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows a 69-year-old incoming female passenger who concealed the duty-not-paid cigarettes around her waist.

Three incoming passengers were sentenced to four weeks' to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the Magistrates' Courts today (June 11) for possessing or 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 concealed around the waist of a 69-year-old incoming female passenger.

Three incoming passengers were sentenced to four weeks' to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the Magistrates' Courts today (June 11) for possessing or 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 from the personal baggage of a 56-year-old incoming male passenger.

Three incoming passengers were sentenced to four weeks' to five months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 respectively by the Magistrates' Courts today (June 11) for possessing or 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 from the personal baggage of a 49-year-old incoming female passenger.