Hong Kong Customs Seizes About 29kg of Suspected Ketamine, 2.85kg of Suspected Cocaine at Airport; Three Arrested in Drug Trafficking Cases

Hong Kong Customs detects three incoming passenger drug trafficking cases at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 20) and today (June 21) detected three drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 29 kilograms of suspected ketamine and 2.85kg of suspected cocaine, with a total estimated market value of about 13 million. Three persons were arrested.

The first case involved a 30-year-old Brazilian male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Doha, Qatar, yesterday. During Customs clearance, about 2.85kg of suspected cocaine were found in his check-in baggage. The male was subsequently arrested.

The subsequent two cases involved a 23-year-old Malaysian male passenger and a 27-year-old Chinese female passenger respectively. They arrived in Hong Kong from Rome, Italy, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers separately seized from their checked-in suitcases a batch of suspected ketamine weighing about 25kg with an estimated market value of approximately $9.5 million, and another batch weighing about 4kg with an estimated market value of approximately $1.6 million. The two persons were subsequently arrested.

The arrested person in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and the case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (June 22), while investigations of the remaining 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 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.

Customs will also 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 yesterday (June 20) and today (June 21) detected three passenger drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 29 kilograms of suspected ketamine and 2.85kg kilograms of suspected cocaine with a total estimated market value of about $13 million. Three persons were arrested. Photo shows the arrested person (centre) involved in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 20) and today (June 21) detected three drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 29 kilograms of suspected ketamine and 2.85kg of suspected cocaine with a total estimated market value of about $13 million. Photo shows the suspected ketamine seized in the second case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 20) and today (June 21) detected three drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 29 kilograms of suspected ketamine and 2.85kg of suspected cocaine with a total estimated market value of about $13 million. Photo shows the suspected ketamine seized in the third case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 20) and today (June 21) detected three drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 29 kilograms of suspected ketamine and 2.85kg of suspected cocaine with a total estimated market value of about $13 million. Photo shows the suspected cocaine concealed in the compartment of the check-in baggage in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Sha Tin today

The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened on a construction site in Sha Tin this morning (November 5). While washing vehicle tyres on the vehicular lane at a site entrance, a female worker was run over by a grab lorry to death. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to the deceased’s family members.

The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending any work on the vehicular lane at the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."

The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if any violations are found during the investigation."

To prevent workers from being struck by vehicles, the LD reminds employers to take adequate precautionary measures, including placing suitable barriers to segregate workers from vehicular lanes. If setting up barriers is not feasible, employers shall ensure that workers keep a safe working distance from vehicles. In addition, employers shall provide reflective vests to workers and ensure their proper use.

The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should also co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

Source: AI-found images