Hong Kong Customs Seizes About 42kg of Suspected Ketamine, Arrests Two Men at Airport

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport

Hong Kong Customs on June 17 and yesterday (June 18) detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about 42 kilograms of suspected ketamine with a total estimated market value of about $16 million. Two men were arrested.

In the first case, a 50-year-old Japanese male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on June 17. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 16kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase and 137 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, a 50-year-old British male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from London, the United Kingdom, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 26kg of suspected ketamine inside his two check-in suitcases. He was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of possession of dutiable goods and one count of failing to declare to a member of the Customs and Excise Service. The arrested man in the second case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. Both cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (June 20).

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 (DCO), 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 on June 17 and yesterday (June 18) detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about 42 kilograms of suspected ketamine with a total estimated market value of about $16 million. Two men were arrested. Photo shows the arrested person in the second case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs on June 17 and yesterday (June 18) detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about 42 kilograms of suspected ketamine with a total estimated market value of about $16 million. Two men were arrested. Photo shows the suspected ketamine seized in the second case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs on June 17 and yesterday (June 18) detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about 42 kilograms of suspected ketamine with a total estimated market value of about $16 million. Two men were arrested. Photo shows the arrested person in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs on June 17 and yesterday (June 18) detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about 42 kilograms of suspected ketamine with a total estimated market value of about $16 million. Two men were arrested. Photo shows the suspected ketamine seized in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HAD opens temporary heat shelters

The Home Affairs Department is opening 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (June 21).

The Home Affairs Department and the District Offices review from time to time the arrangements of heat shelters with a view to enhancing their services. A series of service enhancement measures have been introduced this year, including strengthening the cooling and ventilation facilities, providing drinking water dispensers which are more easily accessible, offering personal cooling items, providing more comfortable rest areas and improving the female zone, while food items that cater for the dietary needs of ethnic minorities are even provided in certain heat shelters, so as to provide more comprehensive services for users of heat shelters.

The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.

For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

The heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Island:

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Central and Western -

Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall

3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex

2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern -

Causeway Bay Community Centre

3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern -

Lei Tung Community Hall

Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai -

Leighton Hill Community Hall

133 Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley

Kowloon:

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Kowloon City -

Hung Hom Community Hall

1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices

42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong -

Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre

71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po -

Shek Kip Mei Community Hall

G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate

Wong Tai Sin -

Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre

45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong -

Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre

60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

New Territories:

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Islands -

Tung Chung Community Hall

G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing -

Lai King Community Hall

205 Lai King Hill Road, Kwai Chung,

North -

Cheung Wah Community Hall

Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung -

Hang Hau Community Hall

G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O

Sha Tin -

Lung Hang Estate Community Centre

Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin

Tai Po -

Tai Po Community Centre

2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po

Tsuen Wan -

Lei Muk Shue Community Hall

G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan

Tuen Mun -

Wu Shan Road Community Hall

101 Wu Shan Road, Tuen Mun

Yuen Long -

Long Ping Community Hall

Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

Yuen Long -

Tin Yiu Community Centre

Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

Source: AI-found images