Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds and duty-not-paid cigarettes at airport
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 10) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 13.5 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.7 million. 163 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were also seized from the baggage.
A 34-year-old local male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday (December 10). During customs clearance, suspected cannabis buds, weighing about 13.5 kg in total, and 163 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette were found inside his baggage. The male was subsequently arrested.
The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and one count of failing to declare them to Customs officers. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court tomorrow (December 12).
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.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven 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/en).
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds and duty-not-paid cigarettes at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
