Incoming female passenger convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photo)
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A female incoming passenger was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (July 14) 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 the incoming 68-year-old female passenger at the Lo Wu Control Point on July 12 and seized 5 220 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $21,000 and a duty potential of about $17,000 from her personal baggage. She was subsequently arrested.
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. Members of the public should not defy the law. Under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two 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).