Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes (with photo)

​An incoming local male passenger was sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment with a fine of $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 24) 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 69-year-old local male passenger at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port on August 22 and seized 1 981 duty-not-paid cigarettes from his personal belongings. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $7,500 and the duty potential was about $6,500. The passenger was subsequently arrested. Customs welcomes the sentence. 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. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Members of the public may repo