Hong Kong Customs Seizes $8.9 Million in Drugs, Arrests Three in Major Trafficking Busts

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases at airport and shuts down dangerous drugs distribution centre

Hong Kong Customs detected a trafficking case involving air cargo and a drug trafficking case involving a passenger at Hong Kong International Airport, and shut down a suspected dangerous drugs distribution centre in Tai Po, seizing a total of about 15 kilograms of suspected ketamine, 1kg of suspected cannabis buds, 40 capsules of suspected etomidate, 660 grams of suspected liquid etomidate, 8g of suspected cannabis oil and 1.7kg of suspected heroin, with a total estimated market value of about $8.9 million. Three males were arrested.

In the first case, through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs officers on December 4 inspected an air parcel, arriving in Hong Kong from Belgium declared as carrying an office display product, at Hong Kong International Airport. Upon inspection, about 15kg of suspected ketamine, with an estimated market value of about $6.1 million, was found concealed inside the parcel.

After follow-up investigations, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation yesterday (December 11) and arrested two male consignees, aged 46 and 29, in Sha Tin and Tai Po respectively. Customs officers then escorted the 29-year-old arrested man to his premises in Tai Po for a search and further seized about 1kg of suspected cannabis buds, 40 capsules of suspected etomidate, 660g of suspected liquid etomidate and 8g of suspected cannabis oil, with a total estimated market value of about $2.1 million.

The second case involved a 25-year-old male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today (December 12). During customs clearance, Customs officers found 1.7 kg of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $680,000, concealed in his carry-on suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.

The investigation of the first case is ongoing. The arrested person in the second case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and he will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (December 13).

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 at airport and shuts down dangerous drugs distribution centre Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases at airport and shuts down dangerous drugs distribution centre Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Rating and Valuation Department alerts public to fraudulent website addresses

The Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) today (May 8) alerted members of the public to two fraudulent website addresses ("ujpaylt[.]cc/hk" and "uipaylti[.]vu/hj") that pretend to be the RVD, and fraudulent SMS messages or emails purportedly issued by the RVD, which request the recipients to provide personal information or make a payment by visiting a hyperlink connecting to the website addresses above.

The RVD has no connection with the abovementioned website addresses, SMS messages and emails, and has reported the case to the Police for further investigation.

The RVD reminded members of the public that its official website address is "www.rvd.gov.hk". The RVD will only use "#RVD" to send SMS messages to local subscribers of mobile phone services, and the domain names "@rvd.gov.hk" or "@personalised.gov.hk" to send emails. The RVD will not send hyperlinks via emails, SMS messages or social media platforms for collecting personal information or payments.

For enquiries, please contact the RVD on 2152 2152 or email enquiries@rvd.gov.hk.

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