Hong Kong Customs Seizes 12kg of Cannabis and Cigarettes at Airport; Passenger Arrested

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds and duty-not-paid cigarettes at airport

Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving an incoming passenger at Hong Kong International Airport today (December 28) and seized about 12 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.5 million. 100 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were also seized from the carry-on baggage of the passenger.

A male passenger, aged 31, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of about 12kg of suspected cannabis buds in 20 vacuum-sealed plastic bags in his check-in suitcase and 100 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man 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 bebrought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (December 29).

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).

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds and duty-not-paid cigarettes at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CSTB convenes meeting to co-ordinate preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during Labour Day Golden Week of Mainland

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau convened a meeting today (April 2) to co-ordinate the preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during the five-day Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland (May 1 to 5).

The meeting was chaired by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, with representatives from government departments including the Hong Kong Police Force, the Immigration Department, Hong Kong Customs, the Transport Department, and various District Offices attending. Representatives from various tourism-related organisations, including the Travel Industry Authority, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, major tourist attractions and the hotel industry also attended.

Miss Law said, "Labour Day Golden Week is Hong Kong's peak season for travel, and a notable increase in the number of visitors during the period is expected. Various government departments will strengthen co-ordination and communication with relevant organisations and the travel trade to make early preparations and planning with a view to providing a high-quality travel experience for visitors."

With the Mainland Ching Ming Festival long weekend (April 4 to 6) approaching, during which an increase in visitor arrivals is expected, Miss Law invited government departments, relevant organisations and the travel trade to also make necessary preparations to receive these visitors.

Relevant parties will continue to maintain close communication before the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland to plan and take forward various preparations for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong, and report in a timely manner the latest situation to the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration.

CSTB convenes meeting to co-ordinate preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during Labour Day Golden Week of Mainland Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CSTB convenes meeting to co-ordinate preparation for visitor arrivals to Hong Kong during Labour Day Golden Week of Mainland Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases