Hong Kong Customs Seizes About 27kg of Suspected Cannabis Buds, Arrests Two Women

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 18) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 27 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $6.3 million.

Two Mainland female passengers, aged 49 and 51, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, via Manila, the Philippines, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds inside their check-in baggage. The two women were subsequently arrested.

The two arrested women 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 (August 20).

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 yesterday (August 18) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 27 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $6.3 million. Photo shows one of the arrested women involved in the case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 18) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 27 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $6.3 million. Photo shows one of the arrested women involved in the case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 18) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 27 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $6.3 million. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds seized in the case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorms

As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

A spokesman for the LD said today (November 14) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (such as electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by a rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent an electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm that it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

Source: AI-found images