Hong Kong Customs Seizes About 38 kg of Suspected Ketamine, Arrests Three Persons in Drug Trafficking Cases at Airport

Hong Kong Customs detects two incoming passenger drug trafficking cases at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 25) detected two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 38 kilograms of suspected ketamine, with a total estimated market value of about 15 million. Three persons were arrested.

In the first case, a 51-year-old local woman and a 26-year-old local man, arrived in Hong Kong from Rome, Italy yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a batch of suspected ketamine weighing about 36 kg inside their check-in suitcases. The two persons were subsequently arrested.

In the second case, a 40-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 2 kg of suspected ketamine inside the false compartment of his checked-in suitcase. He was subsequently arrested.

The two arrested persons in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in dangerous drug, while the arrested man in the second case has been charged with one count of trafficking in dangerous drug. Both cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (August 27).

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 also 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 25) detected two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 38 kilograms of suspected ketamine, with a total estimated market value of about 15 million. Three persons were arrested. Photo shows the arrested person in the second case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 25) detected two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 38 kilograms of suspected ketamine, with a total estimated market value of about 15 million. Three persons were arrested. Photo shows the suspected ketamine seized in the second case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 25) detected two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 38 kilograms of suspected ketamine, with a total estimated market value of about 15 million. Three persons were arrested. Photo shows the suspected ketamine seized in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

Three incoming passengers were sentenced to six to eight months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 to $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (November 11) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted three incoming Mainland male passengers, aged 43, 56 and 41, at Hong Kong International Airport on October 28 and yesterday (November 10) and seized a total of about 175 900 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $827,800 and a duty potential of about $581,700, from their personal baggage. The passengers were subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette 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).

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases