Two men jailed over 190,000 cigarettes at airport
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago1 MIN
Summary
Two mainland Chinese men were each sentenced to 10 months in prison at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on Wednesday after being convicted over undeclared duty-paid cigarettes found at Hong Kong International Airport. Customs said about 190,000 cigarettes were discovered in their personal luggage after they arrived on a flight from Vientiane, Laos, via Hanoi, Vietnam.
Key Points
- The two defendants, aged 48 and 39, were arrested on Tuesday after landing in Hong Kong from Vientiane via Hanoi.
- Customs officers found about 190,000 undeclared duty-paid cigarettes inside the men's personal luggage at Hong Kong International Airport.
- The seized cigarettes had an estimated market value of about HK$850,000 and a duty value of about HK$627,000.
- Both men were charged under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and sentenced on Wednesday at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts.
- Customs welcomed the ruling and said the 10-month jail terms send a clear deterrent message about the offence's seriousness.
Why It Matters
The case underlines the legal risks for travellers carrying large quantities of undeclared tobacco into Hong Kong, where duty rules are strictly enforced. The custodial sentences also show Customs is using prosecutions to reinforce deterrence at the airport.