Airport smuggling cases bring jail for mainland travellers
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong Customs reported two separate airport cigarette smuggling cases within days of each other, both ending in custodial sentences for mainland male travellers. In the larger case, a 31-year-old arriving passenger was stopped at Hong Kong International Airport on 8 August and found with about 133,800 duty-not-paid cigarettes in his personal baggage. In the other case, a 25-year-old mainland traveller arriving from Dubai on 16 September was found carrying about 66,000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and was sentenced on 18 September at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts. The two cases underline the authorities' continued use of prosecution and imprisonment against illicit cigarette imports through the airport.
Key Points
- Customs officers intercepted a 31-year-old mainland male traveller at Hong Kong International Airport on 8 August and searched his personal baggage
- Officers seized about 133,800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of HK$548,600 and a duty potential of about HK$442,000
- HK01 reported that the 31-year-old man was later sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and fined HK$1,000 over the offence
- In a separate case, Customs stopped a 25-year-old mainland male traveller arriving from Dubai on Wednesday, 16 September, and arrested him immediately
- About 66,000 duty-not-paid cigarettes were found in that traveller's baggage; he was jailed for eight months and fined HK$2,000 on 18 September
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the cases show that airport arrivals remain a frontline channel for intercepting illicit tobacco before it enters the local market. They also reinforce Customs' warning that importing, handling, possessing, selling or buying illicit cigarettes is an offence under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, which carries a maximum penalty of a HK$2 million fine and seven years' imprisonment.