Hong Kong Customs Seizes 50kg Suspected Cannabis, 3.5kg Suspected Ketamine; Two Arrested in Drug Trafficking Operations

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $11.1 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases on April 27 and yesterday (April 28), and seized a total of about 50 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds and 3.5kg of suspected ketamine with a total estimated market value of about $11.1 million. Two men were arrested.

In the first case, Customs on April 27 inspected an air cargo consignment, declared as automotive seats arriving in Hong Kong from Singapore, at Hong Kong International Airport through risk assessment. Upon inspection, Customs officers detected suspicious X-ray images in the consignment. Upon examination, Customs officers found a total of about 50kg of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $9.7 million inside false compartments in three automotive seats.

After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation yesterday in Tuen Mun and arrested a 30-year-old man. The arrestee has been charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 30).

In the second case, Customs, through risk assessment, inspected an express parcel from the Netherlands, declared as a dice set that was sent to Hong Kong via the Chinese Mainland yesterday. Upon inspection, Customs officers found about 3.5kg of suspected ketamine concealed inside gaming dice from the parcel. The market value was about $1.4 million.

After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation yesterday and arrested a 29-year-old man in Tai Wo Hau suspected to be connected with the case. The arrestee has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 30).

Customs will continue to enhance 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.

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).

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases on April 27 and yesterday (April 28), and seized a total of about 50 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds and 3.5kg of suspected ketamine with a total estimated market value of about $11.1 million. Two men were arrested. Photo shows the suspected ketamine seized in the second case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases on April 27 and yesterday (April 28), and seized a total of about 50 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds and 3.5kg of suspected ketamine with a total estimated market value of about $11.1 million. Two men were arrested. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds seized in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

New private driving instructor's licences open for applications from May 11

The Transport Department (TD) today (April 30) announced that a total of 332 new private driving instructor's (PDI) licences will be open for applications from 9am on May 11 until 5pm on May 29. The quotas for each group are tabulated below:

PDI group

Number of new licences to be issued

Public Quota

Driving Instructor Quota

Group 1: private cars and light goods vehicles

160

54

Group 2: public light buses, private light buses, public buses and private buses

37

13

Group 3: medium goods vehicles, heavy goods vehicles and articulated vehicles

51

17

A spokesman for the TD said, "Following the completion of the periodic review on the issue of new PDI licences, including a detailed review of learner drivers' demand for driver training from PDIs, the issuance of new licences according to the mechanism aims to ensure an adequate supply of PDIs to meet the demand for driver training, while sustaining market competition."

Applicants should note the following:

The Guidance Notes for Applicants for each group and quota can be downloaded from the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) for applicants to thoroughly understand the qualification requirements for different quotas and submit applications according to their own circumstances;

Applicants must complete and submit the online application form from May 11 to 29 via the designated online platform using an "iAM Smart+" account with the digital signing function or a valid digital certificate. Applicants yet to register for "iAM Smart+" should do so as soon as possible.Upon receipt of their applications, applicants will receive an SMS confirming the application number;

Applicants must meet the qualifications for the relevant groups and quotas. Only one application may be submitted for each group (regardless of Public or Driving Instructor Quota). Late applications will not be accepted;

If the number of applications exceeds the number of licences to be issued for an individual group and quota, the TD will draw lots to determine the order of handling the applications (details to be announced separately), and verify applicants' eligibility and arrange for them to take the driving instructor's test in sequence;

The driving instructor's tests are expected to commence as early as July and the TD will notify qualified applicants individually; and

If all licences are issued, the remaining applications will not be processed.

For enquiries, please call the TD's hotline at 2804 2600.

Source: AI-found images