Hong Kong Customs Seizes About 3kg of Suspected Cannabis Buds at Airport, Arrests Malaysian Passenger

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $0.5 million at airport

Hong Kong Customs today (July 9) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 3 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $0.5 million.

A 19-year-old Malaysian male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia via Singapore today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds inside his check-in luggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

An investigation 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 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 9) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 3 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $0.5 million. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes illegally imported live birds of suspected scheduled endangered species

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 9) seized two illegally imported live birds of a suspected scheduled endangered species, with an estimated market value of about $5,000, at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point.

Customs officers intercepted an incoming 46-year-old local female passenger at the Arrival Hall of the said Control Point yesterday. Upon examination, the two live birds were seized from her backpack. Officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) attended the scene for inspection and confirmed that the two live birds were of an endangered species listed in the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance in Hong Kong. The case was handed over to the AFCD for follow-up investigation.

Customs reminds the public not to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.

According to the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.

Under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Regulations, it is an offence to import any bird unless it is accompanied by a valid health certificate. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $25,000.

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 seizes illegally imported live birds of suspected scheduled endangered species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases