Hong Kong – Two inbound travelers founded guilty and imprisoned for handling and importing duty-not-paid cigarettes (with images)

2 inbound male guests were sentenced to 5 months’ jail time with a fine of $2,000, and 9 months’ jail time with a fine of $1,500, respectively at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (September 11) for handling and importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, and stopping working to state them to Customs officers, in conflict of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers obstructed an inbound male traveler, aged 48, at Hong Kong International Airport on July 15. About 20 600 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were taken from his individual luggage. The approximated market price had to do with $92,700, and the responsibility capacity had to do with $68,100. He was consequently detained and was sentenced to 5 months’ jail time and fined $2,000 today.

In addition, Customs officers obstructed an inbound male travelers, aged 31, at Hong Kong International Airport the other day (September 10). About 90 400 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were taken from his individual luggage. The approximated market price had to do with $370,600, and the responsibility capacity had to do with $298,800. He was consequently apprehended and was sentenced to 9 months’ jail time and fined $1,500 today.

Customizeds invites the sentences. The custodial sentences have actually enforced a substantial deterrent impact and show the severity of the offenses.

Customizeds advises members of the general public that under the DCO, tobacco items are dutiable products to which the DCO uses. Anybody who handles, has, offers or purchases illegal cigarettes dedicates an offense. The optimum charge upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and jail time for 2 years.

Members of the general public might report any presumed illegal cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its devoted crime-reporting e-mail account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online kind (eform.cefs.gov.hk/ form/ced002).