Import of poultry meat and products from Gostynin District of Mazowieckie Region in Poland suspended
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (April 14) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Gostynin District of Mazowieckie Region in Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 2 890 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland last year.
"The CFS has contacted the Polish authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
Source: AI-found images
Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport
Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving an incoming passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (April 13) and seized about 3 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $2.7 million.
A 36-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Freetown, Sierra Leone, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine inside her baggage. The woman was subsequently arrested.
The arrested woman has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will bebrought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 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 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 drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
