Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Incoming driver convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes
Through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Hong Kong Customs intercepted an inbound private car, declared to be empty, at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port on December 11, 2024. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized 86 000 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes at the boot, rear seats and under the front passenger’s seat of the vehicle. The driver was subsequently arrested, and the private car was also seized. The estimated market value of the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized in the case was about $430,000, and the duty potential was about $280,000.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, tobacco products 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 $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action.Issued at HKT 16:53
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