Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit heat-not-burn products

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 19) seized about 38 000 sticks of suspected illicit heat-not-burn (HNB) products with an estimated market value of about $110,000 and a duty potential of about $70,000 at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Tokyo, Japan yesterday night. During Customs clearance, the batch of suspected illicit HNB products were found inside the luggage carried by him. The man was then arrested.

     The arrested man, aged 56, has been charged with one count of possession of goods to which Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies and one count of failing to declare to a member of the Customs and Excise Service. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (February 21).

     Customs reminds members of the public that under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), tobacco is dutiable goods to which DCO applies. Any HNB products containing tobacco in content is also dutiable goods subject to the control of DCO. Any person who possesses, sells or buys dutiable commodities without a valid license commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years. Members of the public may call the Customs' hotline 2815 7711 regarding whether specific tobacco or smoking product is under the regulation of DCO.

     Members of the public may also report any suspected violation of the DCO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).