A 49-year-old man was convicted and sentenced to 4 months' imprisonment at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts today (September 29) for possession of illicit cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.
Customs officers intercepted an incoming male passenger at Lo Wu Control Point yesterday (September 28) and seized about 33 000 illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $88,000 and a duty potential of about $62,000 from two suitcases carried by him.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
A spokesman for Customs and Excise Department reiterated that stringent enforcement against illicit cigarette activities would be continued at all control points.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Saturday, September 29, 2018