Hong Kong Customs Seizes 30kg Heroin at Airport, Arrests Two in Major Drug Trafficking Case.

Hong Kong Customs detects dangerous drugs case and seizes suspected heroin worth about $17 million

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 5) detected a drug trafficking case involving air cargo at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and seized about 30 kilograms of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $17 million. Two persons were arrested.

Through risk assessment, Customs yesterday examined an air cargo consignment arriving from Vietnam, declared as carrying dried food, at HKIA. Upon inspection, Customs officers detected suspicious X-ray images on the consignment and found the batch of suspected heroin concealed in a foam box.

After follow-up investigations, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation on the same day and arrested two consignees in Sham Shui Po; a 41-year-old male and a 38-year-old local male, who claimed to be unemployed and a restaurant manager respectively.

An investigation of the case is 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.

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 detects dangerous drugs case and seizes suspected heroin worth about $17 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming air passengers convicted and jailed for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes

Two incoming air passengers were each sentenced to five months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on July 4 for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) (Cap. 109). One of them was also fined $1,000.

Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a special enforcement operation to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers. The two incoming Mainland male passengers aged 22 and 28, arriving in Hong Kong from Osaka, Japan, were arrested at Hong Kong International Airport on June 24. A total of about 71 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 16 kilograms manufactured tobacco, with an estimated market value of about $420,000 and a duty potential of about $300,000, were seized from their personal baggage.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public and travellers that under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying 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 illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080, its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Two incoming air passengers convicted and jailed for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming air passengers convicted and jailed for importing and dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases