Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $1.9 million at airport
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 8) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 9 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.9 million. Two persons suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.
One female passenger and one male passenger, both aged 19, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds inside their baggage. The duo was subsequently arrested.
The two arrested persons have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (February 10).
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 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/en).
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $1.9 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CEDD achieves four top accolades of gold medals with congratulations of jury at International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva
The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) achieved outstanding results at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, winning a total of 10 awards, including four top accolades of gold medals with the congratulations of jury, two gold medals, three silver medals and a bronze medal.
The Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Michael Fong, today (March 15) was encouraged by the department's remarkable achievements at the Exhibition this year. He said, "The department has been actively engaging in research and development and applying innovative technologies to enhance work efficiency and quality, as well as improving site safety. This achievement affirms the professionalism and innovative spirit of our colleagues."
In the field of disaster prevention, the in-house team of the CEDD developed the fifth-generation AI Landslip Warning System, applying artificial intelligence and big data technology to analyse the rainfall and landslide data in Hong Kong. This significantly improves the accuracy of risk assessment and issuance of warning signals. In addition, the department also developed a number of intelligent safety management systems, including the occupational health and safety management and monitoring system for confined spaces that can achieve instant alerts and closed-loop management; the CANOPUS - Smart Safety Harness monitoring system focusing on safety for working-at-height which can ensure that safety harnesses are securely attached; and the pioneering multi-channel certification mechanism that can enable real-time tracking and predictive alerts of personnel and equipment. The above inventions all received the gold medals with the congratulations of jury at this Exhibition.
The awarded projects by the CEDD are:
Gold medals with the congratulations of jury
• AI Landslip Warning System
• Intelligent occupational health and safety management and monitoring system for confined spaces
• CANOPUS - Smart Safety Harness
• Personnel real-name system and equipment tracking intelligent software
Gold medals
• SmartAERO - Smart Drone Management Platform (jointly developed with the Development Bureau)
• IntelliGuard OS
Silver medals
• CEDD AI Assistant
• Heavy machinery and hazardous area monitoring system
• TAMAGO - Smart Falsework Monitoring System
Bronze medal
• Electronic lock and work permit system for hazardous areas
The International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva is an annual grand event in the global invention community. This year, the Exhibition was held from March 11 to 15 in Geneva, Switzerland, showcasing about 1 000 inventions from 35 countries and regions, which were evaluated by the international jury of specialists.
CEDD achieves four top accolades of gold medals with congratulations of jury at International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CEDD achieves four top accolades of gold medals with congratulations of jury at International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CEDD achieves four top accolades of gold medals with congratulations of jury at International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CEDD achieves four top accolades of gold medals with congratulations of jury at International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CEDD achieves four top accolades of gold medals with congratulations of jury at International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
