Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport
Hong Kong Customs today (July 1) detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 23 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $4 million. Two persons were arrested.
The first case involved a 38-year-old Chinese male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand via Jakarta, Indonesia, this morning. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of about 13kg of suspected cannabis buds inside his check-in baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.
The second case involved a 33-year-old local female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Phuket, Thailand this afternoon. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of 10kg of suspected cannabis buds inside her check-in baggage. The woman was subsequently arrested.
Investigations of both 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 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 today (July 1) detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 23 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $4 million. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds seized in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
