Hong Kong Customs Seizes 33 Suspected Endangered Turtles Worth About $330,000 at Airport

Hong Kong Customs seizes live turtles of scheduled endangered species

Hong Kong Customs on July 13 seized 33 live turtles of a scheduled endangered species with an estimated market value of about $330,000 at the Air Mail Centre in Hong Kong International Airport.

Through risk assessment, Customs that day examined three inbound parcels declared as containing cushions filled with polyester at the Air Mail Centre. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of live turtles of a scheduled endangered species wrapped in plastic and concealed in socks inside the postal packets.

Customs officers subsequently conducted controlled delivery operations and arrested three postal packet recipients including a 37-year-old Mainland male, a 47-year-old local female and a 29-year-old local male. The arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against all kinds of smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

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.

Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of an 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.

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 on July 13 seized 33 live turtles of a scheduled endangered species with an estimated market value of about $330,000 at the Air Mail Centre in Hong Kong International Airport. Photo shows one of the live turtles of the scheduled endangered species seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Major Sports Events Committee awards "M" Mark status to three events

The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:

The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded "M" Mark status to the 2026 World Triathlon Cup - Hong Kong (November 7 and 8), the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals 2026 (November 13 to 15) and the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (Hong Kong Section) Half Marathon 2026 (November 15).

The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (October 30), "We are very pleased to award 'M' Mark status to these three international sports events. The World Triathlon Cup allows athletes to showcase their incredible determination against the backdrop of Victoria Harbour and the streets of Central; the top-tier international esports event, the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals, returns to AsiaWorld-Expo, drawing the attention of esports fans worldwide; and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Half Marathon leverages a world-class landmark to highlight Hong Kong's unique appeal. Beyond attracting world-class athletes and international visitors to Hong Kong, these events will further consolidate Hong Kong's position as a centre for international sports events."

The "M" Mark System aims to encourage and help local National Sports Associations and private or non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be considered for "M" Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events. The "M" Mark System aims to promote the development of major sports events, cultivate a sustainable sporting culture, enhance Hong Kong's image as a centre for major international sports events and bring tangible economic benefits to the community.

For details of "M" Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk.

Source: AI-found images