Hong Kong Customs Seizes About 4kg of Suspected Cannabis Buds, Arrests a Passenger at Airport

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport

Hong Kong Customs today (September 2) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 4 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1 million.

A 39-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday (September 1). During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds and 108 duty-not-paid cigarettes inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

An investigation is 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.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (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 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 today (September 2) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 4 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1 million. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds seized in the case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EPD alerts public to fraudulent recycling subsidy scheme

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has recently received public enquiries regarding a recycling subsidy scheme purportedly jointly launched by an enterprise and the EPD. The publicity poster claimed that subsidy would be provided for recycling under the "Renewable Resource Recovery Incentive Scheme". The EPD today (November 9) urged members of the public to stay alert and not to believe in that circulating publicity poster and relevant information.

The EPD clarified that the Department has never jointly launched any project named the "Renewable Resource Recovery Incentive Scheme" with any organisations, nor has it authorised any individual or entity to use the name and logo of the EPD for such publicity. Upon review, the logos of the EPD and the related enterprise on the poster are false. The EPD has reported the case to the Police.

A spokesperson for the EPD reminded the public not to trust posters, links, or messaging software from unknown sources and not to participate in suspicious recycling subsidy activities. Members of the public should also refrain from disclosing personal data or financial information to unknown sources. Anyone who has provided personal information or conducted transactions in connection with the fraudulent recycling subsidy scheme is advised to contact the Police as soon as possible.