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Hong Kong Task Force Heads to Thailand to Address Detained Residents in Southeast Asia

HK

Hong Kong Task Force Heads to Thailand to Address Detained Residents in Southeast Asia
HK

HK

Hong Kong Task Force Heads to Thailand to Address Detained Residents in Southeast Asia

2025-01-12 11:41 Last Updated At:11:58

SB dedicated task force to depart for Thailand to follow-up on cases of Hong Kong residents detained for illegal work

The Security Bureau (SB) has always attached great importance to cases where Hong Kong residents are suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work, and has established a dedicated task force to co-ordinate follow-up action by the relevant law enforcement agencies in August 2022. In view of recent developments, SB officials will lead members of the dedicated task force from the Hong Kong Police Force and the Immigration Department to Thailand today (January 12) to further follow-up on the request for assistance cases.

Since the second quarter of 2024, there have been signs of a resurgence in the situation where Hong Kong residents are suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work. To date, law enforcement agencies received a total of 28 requests for assistance in relation to Hong Kong residents alleging to be detained in Southeast Asian countries and unable to leave. Among them, 16 have already returned to Hong Kong. The remaining 12 cases reported restrictions on their movement but were still safe and able to contact their families or the task force.

While in Thailand, members of the task force will meet with officials from the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand, representatives of the Ministry of Justice of Thailand sitting on the Anti Trafficking-in-Persons Committee chaired by the Prime Minister of Thailand, as well as the authorities of Thailand to reflect the relevant assistance cases, exchange intelligence and request the relevant authorities to assist as much as they can in the rescue of those assistance seekers.

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Customs Seizes $3.2 Million of Space Oil Drug at Hong Kong Airport, Arrests Suspect

2025-02-06 21:50 Last Updated At:21:58

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected "space oil drug" worth about $3.2 million at airport

Hong Kong Customs detected a case involving etomidate (the main ingredient of "space oil drug"), a kind of Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 3 kilograms of suspected "space oil drug" with an estimated market value of about $3.2 million on January 8.

During Customs clearance at the airport on that day, Customs officers found the batch of suspected "space oil drug" concealed in a tote bag and a box of food package inside an unclaimed baggage arriving from Malaysia.

After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers today (February 6) arrested a 47-year-old male, who was suspected to be connected with the case in Tuen Mun and seized one "space oil drug" infused capsule and two vape devices in the cross body bag carried by him.

An investigation is ongoing.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected "space oil drug" worth about $3.2 million at airport  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected "space oil drug" worth about $3.2 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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