Tourist gets three months for carrying 18,000 duty-not-paid cigarettes into HK

An incoming female passenger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with a fine at Fanling Magistrates' Courts on Thursday for possessing 18,000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and for failing to declare to border officials, according to Hong Kong Customs.

The 42-year-old female passenger was intercepted at the Lo Wu Control Point on January 23, with 18,000 duty-not-paid cigarettes seized from her personal baggage. The batch of cigarettes has an estimated market value of about HK$74,000 and a duty potential of about HK$60,000.

Customs said it welcomes the sentence, adding that a custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offenses.

Members of the public were reminded that under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, tobacco products are dutiable goods. Any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offense. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of HK$1 million and imprisonment of two years.