Hong Kong Customs said a 52-year-old Mainland male passenger was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on November 10. He was convicted of importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.

Customs officers intercepted the man at Hong Kong International Airport on November 9 as he arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, via Taiwan. About 132,400 duty-not-paid cigarettes were seized from his personal baggage, with an estimated market value of about $595,000 and a duty potential of about $437,000. He was arrested.

Customs welcomed the custodial sentence, saying it has a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. It reminded the public that cigarettes are dutiable goods under the ordinance and that importing, dealing with, possessing, selling or buying duty-not-paid cigarettes is an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and seven years' imprisonment. Suspected illicit cigarette activity can be reported to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080, its crime-reporting email account or an online form.