Mainland traveler jailed four weeks for smuggling cigarettes in bra and leggings

A 57-year-old mainland traveler was sentenced to four weeks in prison after attempting to smuggle 781 cigarettes into Hong Kong by concealing them in her bra and leggings.

Customs officers intercepted the woman on Monday when she arrived at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point.

A search uncovered 781 undeclared dutiable cigarettes with an estimated market value of about HK$3,900 and a duty value of approximately HK$2,600.

The woman was arrested at the scene.

A photograph released by Customs showed the seized cigarettes alongside the bra and tight-fitting leggings allegedly used to conceal them.

She was subsequently charged with possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers.

The woman appeared at Fanling Magistrates' Courts on Tuesday, where she was sentenced to four weeks in prison and fined HK$1,000.

Customs welcomed the sentence, saying the custodial penalty reflected the seriousness of the offense and would serve as a deterrent.

The department reminded the public that importing, dealing with, possessing, selling or buying illicit cigarettes is an offense punishable by a maximum fine of HK$2 million and up to seven years' imprisonment.

𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽 ↓