Hong Kong Customs Seizes 19.4kg of Drugs, Arrests Three Men at Airport

Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 21) and today (July 22) detected three drug trafficking cases involving incoming air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized a total of about 5.4 kilograms of suspected cocaine and about 14kg of suspected methamphetamine, with a total estimated market value of about $11 million. Three men were arrested.

In the first case, a 39-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Doha, Qatar, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 5.4kg of suspected cocaine, with an estimated market of about $4 million, in his carry-on suitcase. He was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, a 22-year-old Malaysian male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance in the early hours today, Customs officers found about 7kg of suspected methamphetamine concealed in four beverage packages, with an estimated market of about $3.5 million, in his check-in suitcase. He was subsequently arrested.

In the third case, a 27-year-old Malaysian male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance in the early hours today, Customs officers found about 7kg of suspected methamphetamine concealed in eight beverage packages, with an estimated market of about $3.5 million, in his check-in suitcase. He was subsequently arrested.

Investigations of the three cases are 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 detects three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCMA visits Macao

The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa, visited Macao today (July 22) to meet with officials of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) to gather their views in preparing for Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan.

Miss Tse met with the Director of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau of the Government of the Macao SAR, Mr Cheong Chok-man, to explore ways to deepen co-operation between Hong Kong and Macao with regard to Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, and to leverage the distinctive advantages and vital roles of the two SARs of having strong support from the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle. The government officials of the Macao SAR also shared their experience in drawing up five-year plans.

Miss Tse said that the Government of the Hong Kong SAR is working at full speed to draw up Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, which will set out the city's development vision and strategic directions for the next five years. The Plan will definitely have a close connection with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), of which Hong Kong is a part. Hong Kong will work more closely with Macao to jointly explore forward-looking and strategic development directions, and to leverage respective strengths to promote the development of the GBA.

The Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Miss Pamela Lam, was among the officials joining the visit.

SCMA visits Macao Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SCMA visits Macao Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases