Hong Kong Customs Seizes About 35kg of Suspected Cannabis Buds at Airport, Arrests British Transit Passenger.

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $8.2 million at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 24) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport. About 35 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $8.2 million were seized.

A 19-year-old British male transit passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, and planned to take a flight to London, the United Kingdom, yesterday. During Customs clearance, the suspected cannabis buds, weighing about 35kg in total, were found in 64 bags inside his two check-in suitcases. The male was subsequently arrested.

The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (August 26).

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 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 24) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport. About 35 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $8.2 million were seized. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds concealed in one of the suitcases. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 24) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport. About 35 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $8.2 million were seized. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds concealed in one of the suitcases. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Korea and US suspended

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 9) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N9 avian influenza in Yeoncheon-gun of Gyeonggi-do Province in Korea, and outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in areas in the United States (US), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the relevant areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

The relevant areas are as follows:

Korea

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Gyeonggi-do Province

(1) Yeoncheon-gun

US

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State of North Dakota

(2) Dickey County

State of Minnesota

(3) Roseau County

State of Nebraska

(4) Cedar County

State of Kansas

(5) Greeley County

State of South Dakota

(6) Hanson County

State of Illinois

(7) Clinton County

A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 80 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 11.48 million poultry eggs from Korea, and about 33 270 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 92.33 million poultry eggs from the US in the first nine months of this year.

"The CFS has contacted the Korean and American authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

Source: AI-found images