Hong Kong Customs Seizes 20kg of Cannabis, Arrests Two Men at Airport

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases invloving passengers at airport

Hong Kong Customs today (August 4) detected two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized a total of about 20 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $4 million. Two men were arrested.

The two cases involved two male passengers, aged 49 and 37, who both arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 10kg of suspected cannabis buds in each of their check-in suitcases. The two batches of suspected cannabis buds were concealed by vacuum-sealed bags. The two men were subsequently arrested.

The arrested person in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and he will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (August 5). The investigation of the second case is ongoing.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

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 Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

​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 detects two drug trafficking cases invloving passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EPD highly concerned over industrial accident at yard waste recycling centre

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is highly concerned over an industrial accident that occurred yesterday (January 16) at the yard waste recycling centre, Y·PARK in Tuen Mun, and extends its sympathies to the injured worker and his family members.

At around 2pm yesterday, a worker sustained injury when his left palm was severed while attempting to clear stuck debris at an operating wood chipping machine. He remained conscious and was sent to Tuen Mun Hospital for treatment. The EPD immediately deployed staff to the hospital after the incident to understand the condition of the injured and provide his family members with appropriate assistance.

The EPD notified the Labour Department and the Police in the first instance. Staff from the Labour Department conducted on-site inspection and issued a suspension notice to the contractor, requiring suspension of operation of the concerned machinery until all improvement measures have been implemented. The EPD requested the contractor to fully co-operate with the Labour Department in its investigation, and demanded an incident report from the contractor within three days.

The safety of its facilities remains the top priority of the EPD, with close monitoring of contractors' operation in place. On the contractor's front, daily regular on-site inspections on occupational safety conditions and safety training for employees and its subcontractors are part of their requirements.

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases