Hong Kong Customs Seizes About 22kg of Suspected Cannabis Buds at Airport, Three Persons Arrested in Trafficking Cases

Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at airport

Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airportyesterday (July 15) and today (July 16), and seized a total of about 22 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $4.1 million. Two women and one man were arrested.

In the first case, two Filipino female passengers, aged 26 and 33, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of 12kg of suspected cannabis buds inside their check-in suitcases. The two women were subsequently arrested.

In the second case, a 47-year-old Chinese male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand via Manila, the Philippines, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 10kg of suspected cannabis buds inside his check-in suitcase. He was then arrested.

The two arrested women in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (July 17). The investigation of the second 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 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 detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (July 15) and today (July 16), and seized a total of about 22 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $4.1 million. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds concealed in the suitcase in the second case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (July 15) and today (July 16), and seized a total of about 22 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $4.1 million. Photo shows one of the arrested persons (centre) in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (July 15) and today (July 16), and seized a total of about 22 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $4.1 million. Photo shows one of the arrested persons (centre) in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (July 15) and today (July 16), and seized a total of about 22 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $4.1 million. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds concealed in the suitcase in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (July 15) and today (July 16), and seized a total of about 22 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $4.1 million. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds concealed in the suitcase in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Opening remarks by SCMA at media session (with photo/video)

Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa, at a media session this afternoon (August 14):

Today marks the conclusion of the public consultation for Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government released the consultation document on June 15, and the consultation has run for two months.

During the consultation period, public response has been very enthusiastic. The general public and stakeholders from different sectors have taken the formulation of Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan very seriously, and have beenkeen to contribute their views and suggestions.

We organised over 100 consultation sessions throughout the public consultation period. About 30 sessions have been conducted by the Chief Executive himself to listen to the views and suggestions from various sectors and industries.

As of today, we have received over 16 000 submissions from different sectors, the general public and stakeholders from different backgrounds. The public's very strong support for our effort is most appreciated.

Indeed, Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan will help us better seize both international and national development opportunities. It is not only a matter for the HKSAR, but also an integral part of the National 15th Five-Year Plan.

Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan is a major initiative to integrate into and serve the overall development of the country, and at the same time, a milestone for public administration in Hong Kong.

We will continue with our efforts in collating and analysing the views and suggestions, and we will strive to publish the formal document within September. Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Source: AI-found images

Opening remarks by SCMA at media session (with photo/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images