Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes
One male and two female were respectively sentenced from 38 to 48 days of imprisonment and fined from $1,000 to $1,200 at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (March 22) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare to Customs Officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted one incoming male passenger, aged 44, and two female incoming passengers, aged 74 and 54, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (March 21). About 5 100, 5 900 and 8 600 duty-not-paid cigarettes were seized respectively from their personal baggages and they were subsequently arrested.
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 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).
Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
