Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at airport
Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (June 5) and today (June 6), and seized a total of about 3.4 kilograms of suspected cocaine and 16 kg of suspected cannabis buds, with a total estimated market value of about $5.6 million. Two women were arrested.
In the first case, a 23-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday afternoon. During customs clearance, Customs officer found about 3.4 kg of suspected cocaine concealed inside two statues in her check-in suitcase. Thirty-four duty-not-paid cigarettes and one piece of alternative smoking were also found inside her carry-on baggage. The woman was then arrested.
In the second case, a 22-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 16kg of suspected cannabis buds inside her check-in baggage. She was subsequently arrested.
Investigations of the two cases are ongoing.
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.
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.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, importing an alternative smoking product is liable to a maximum 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 detects two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Beef and beef congee samples found to contain sulphur dioxide
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 6) that two beef samples collected from a licensed food factory in North District were found to contain sulphur dioxide, contravening the provisions on preservative of the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD) (the Regulation). The CFS is following up on the incident. The food factory concerned has suspended its business.
A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to the earlier announcement that a beef congee sample taken from a licensed general restaurant in Wah Kwai Estate, Aberdeen, was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a follow-up investigation by the CFS revealed that the beef concerned was suspected to be supplied by the licensed food factory mentioned above. The CFS has immediately taken follow-up action and collected beef samples from the relevant food factory for testing. The test results showed that the two beef samples contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 7 700 parts per million (ppm) and 8 300 ppm respectively."
"As instructed by the CFS, the concerned licensed general restaurant in Wah Kwai Estate, Aberdeen has earlier stopped the sale of the relevant beef congee. The CFS had collected another beef congee sample for follow-up investigation before the restaurant concerned stopped selling the relevant product, and the test result showed that the beef congee sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 540 ppm," the spokesman added.
The CFS has informed the food factory concerned of the irregularities and instructed it to stop the sale of the products concerned and discard relevant raw materials. During an inspection to the food factory concerned, stains were detected in several areas of the premises, and a gap at the door was found. Prosecution was then initiated to the relevant person; and a Notice of Elimination of Vermin was issued under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) Section 47(1), requiring the person-in-charge of the premises to adopt necessary procedures to remove any items causing rodent infestation within specified time frame, failing which prosecution will be instituted.
According to the Regulation, contravening relevant provisions on preservatives is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. Sulphur dioxide is water-soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action. Prosecution will be instituted for the violation of the Regulation. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: AI-found images
