Hong Kong Customs Seizes $2.1 Million in Cocaine, Arrests Two Suspects in Drug Manufacturing Bust

Hong Kong Customs shuts down suspected drug manufacturing centre and seizes suspected drug worth about $2.1 million

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 3) shut down a suspected drug manufacturing centre in Kwai Chung and seized about 2.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine and 293 grams of suspected crack cocaine with a total estimated market value of about $2.1 million. Two men, aged 55 and 23, were arrested.

During an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Kwai Chung yesterday, Customs officers intercepted the two men with suspicious actions and seized about 70g and 3g of suspected crack cocaine from them respectively. The two men were subsequently arrested. Customs officers later escorted them to a residential premises nearby for a search and further seized about 2.5kg of suspected cocaine, 220g of suspected crack cocaine and a batch of suspected drug manufacturing paraphernalia.

The two arrested men, both claimed to be unemployed, have each been charged with one count of trafficking in dangerous drugs and one count of possession of dangerous drugs, and jointly charged with one count of trafficking in dangerous drugs. They will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (October 5).

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 shuts down suspected drug manufacturing centre and seizes suspected drug worth about $2.1 million 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.