Hong Kong Customs Seizes 11 Kilograms of Cannabis Buds at Airport, Arrests Passenger from Bangkok.

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $2.2 million at airport

​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 12) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 11 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.2 million.

A male passenger, aged 43, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds concealed inside vacuum-sealed bags in his carry-on suitcase. He was subsequently arrested.

The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on December 15.

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 seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $2.2 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes eggs of suspected scheduled endangered bird species

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 12) seized 714 eggs of suspected scheduled endangered bird species, with an estimated market value of about $10 million, at Hong Kong International Airport.

A 26-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Thailand yesterday (December 12). He was intercepted for customs clearance at the arrivals hall of the airport. Customs officers found the batch of bird eggs inside three paper boxes in his carry-on baggage. Upon inspection by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the bird eggs were suspected to be endangered species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong.The man was subsequently arrested by Customs officer.

The arrested man was charged with illegal import of an Appendix II species. He will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on December 15.

Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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 eggs of suspected scheduled endangered bird species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes eggs of suspected scheduled endangered bird species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases