Hong Kong Customs detects dangerous drugs case and seizes suspected drugs worth about $5.4 million
Hong Kong Customs detected a dangerous drugs case yesterday (July 21) and seized a total of about 28.6 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds, about 1 gram of suspected crack cocaine, and about 3g of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $5.4 million. Two persons suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.
Hong Kong Customs and Mainland departments on narcotics control and anti-smuggling carried out an intelligence exchange and intercepted a consignment, which was declared as tea, arriving in Hong Kong from Thailand via the Mainland on July 20. The batch of suspected cannabis buds was found inside the consignment after inspection. Upon follow-up investigations, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation and arrested two local men aged 32 and 37 in Sheung Shui yesterday. About 1g of suspected crack cocaine and about 3g of suspected methamphetamine were also found in a private vehicle of one of the arrestees.
The arrestees have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, and one of them has been further charged with one count of possession of a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (July 23).
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 drugs worth about $5.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects dangerous drugs case and seizes suspected drugs worth about $5.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Conviction case of unlicensed operation of "student hostel"
An operator of an unlicensed "student hostel" was convicted today (July 22) at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts of contravening the Bedspace Apartments Ordinance (Cap. 447) (the Ordinance).
Officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) under the Home Affairs Department (HAD) conducted an inspection in March this year at a premises located in Kowloon Tong, and discovered an unlicensed bedspace apartment equipped with bedspaces being used as sleeping accommodation under rental agreements. After investigation, the OLA obtained sufficient evidence and instituted prosecution. The operator concerned pleaded guilty to operating a bedspace apartment without a certificate of exemption or a licence, in contravention of sections 5(1) and 6(a) of the Ordinance.
A spokesman said, "The OLA is committed to combatting unlicensed bedspace apartments to safeguard the safety of occupants and other users of the building. Recently, there are premises in the market self-styled as 'student hostels' or 'student residences', some of which involve 12 or more bedspaces used or intended to be used for accommodation under rental agreements, and are thus regulated by the Ordinance. Under the Ordinance, any premises containing 12 or more bedspaces that are used or intended to be used as sleeping accommodation under rental agreements requires a bedspace apartment licence before commencing operation. Operating an unlicensed bedspace apartment is a criminal offence."
The OLA attaches great importance to the issue of unlicensed bedspace apartments and will continue to adopt a multipronged approach to combat unlicensed bedspace apartments through continuous enforcement, stepped-up enforcement efforts, and extensive publicity. Upon receiving reports or complaints, officers of the OLA will conduct investigations into the premises concerned, and will take enforcement and prosecution actions when sufficient evidence is found. The OLA has also strengthened its intelligence-gathering work, including proactively conducting inspections, gathering relevant intelligence through various channels, establishing a notification mechanism with District Offices to obtain information on suspected unlicensed bedspace apartments, and continuing joint interdepartmental operations with other law enforcement agencies to combat unlicensed bedspace apartments. From 2021 to date, the OLA has instituted 12 prosecutions against unlicensed bedspace apartments, and all cases have resulted in convictions.
Source: AI-found images
