Two women jailed over undeclared duty-not-paid tobacco
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago1 MIN
Summary
Two inbound female travellers were sentenced at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts after being convicted of possessing duty-not-paid tobacco and failing to declare it on arrival in Hong Kong. The two women received jail terms of two months and three months respectively, and were each fined HK$1,000.
Key Points
- Hong Kong Customs intercepted the two women, aged 18 and 36, at the airport on June 3 after they arrived in the city.
- Officers found about 23 kilograms of duty-not-paid cigars and 15 grams of manufactured tobacco in their personal luggage.
- The seized tobacco had a total estimated market value of more than HK$840,000 and a dutiable value of about HK$100,000.
- The pair were arrested on the spot and later prosecuted under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance for possession and non-declaration.
- The case was heard at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, where the women were jailed for two months and three months and each fined HK$1,000.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong travellers, the case underlines that failing to declare dutiable tobacco at the border can lead not only to prosecution but also immediate custodial sentences. Customs said it welcomed the ruling because imprisonment carries a strong deterrent effect and, in its view, properly reflects the seriousness of the offences.