Hong Kong Customs detects five smuggling cases with goods worth about $45 million seized
Hong Kong Customs detected four suspected air smuggling cases involving weight-loss injection vials on June 12 and 13. About 4 800 injection vials with suspected controlled weight-loss substances, with a total estimated market value of about $4.5 million, were seized. A suspected smuggling case involving a river trade vessel was also detected on June 15. Large batches of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $40 million were seized.
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs selected 34 postal packets arriving in Hong Kong from Japan for inspection on June 12 and 13, and found a total of about 4 800 injection vials with suspected controlled weight-loss substances.
The river trade vessel departing from Hong Kong for Macao was selected for inspection on June 15. Upon examination, Customs officers aboard the vessel found large batches of suspected smuggled goods, including pharmaceutical products, about 2 900 cosmetic injection vials, suspected endangered live turtles, electronic products and tobacco products.
Investigations are ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on relevant crimes.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Any person who imports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid import licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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 detected four suspected air smuggling cases involving weight-loss injection vials on June 12 and 13. About 4 800 injection vials with suspected controlled weight-loss substances, with a total estimated market value of about $4.5 million, were seized. A suspected smuggling case involving a river trade vessel was also detected on June 15. Large batches of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $40 million were seized. Photo shows some of the suspected smuggled goods seized. 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 (July 1).
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 -
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, 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
