Hong Kong Customs Seize About 23.5kg of Suspected Drugs, Arrest Two Passengers at Airport

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

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 6) detected two drug trafficking cases involving incoming air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about 7.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 16kg of suspected ketamine, 52 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, one suspected alternative smoking product and four boxes of suspected Part 1 poisons, with a total estimated market value of about $11 million. Two men were arrested.

In the first case, a 48-year-old Japanese male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found 7.5kg of suspected cocaine inside his check-in baggage, and 52 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, a 34-year-old British male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from London, the United Kingdom, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found 16kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in baggage, and one suspected alternative smoking product and four boxes of suspected Part 1 poisons inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of possession of dutiable goods and one count of failing to declare to a member of the Customs and Excise Service the possession of dutiable goods. The arrested man in the second case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of importing an alternative smoking product and one count of possession of Part 1 poison. The two cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (September 8).

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, 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.

Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two 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 yesterday (September 6) detected two drug trafficking cases involving incoming air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about 7.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 16kg of suspected ketamine, 52 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, one suspected alternative smoking product and four boxes of suspected Part 1 poisons, with a total estimated market value of about $11 million. Two men were arrested. Photo shows the arrested man in the second case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 6) detected two drug trafficking cases involving incoming air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about 7.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 16kg of suspected ketamine, 52 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, one suspected alternative smoking product and four boxes of suspected Part 1 poisons, with a total estimated market value of about $11 million. Two men were arrested. Photo shows the suspected ketamine seized in the second case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 6) detected two drug trafficking cases involving incoming air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about 7.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 16kg of suspected ketamine, 52 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, one suspected alternative smoking product and four boxes of suspected Part 1 poisons, with a total estimated market value of about $11 million. Two men were arrested. Photo shows the suspected cocaine seized in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Third batch of HKSAR young public officers to work at United Nations

The third batch of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) young public officers recommended by the Central Government of the People's Republic of China will be taking up positions in the United Nations (UN). The Launch Ceremony was held at the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR (OCMFA) today (September 8).

With the support of the Central People's Government and the assistance of the OCMFA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) recommended 16 young public officers to participate in the UN Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme in the current round, marking a record high. This fully reflects the nation's recognition of the capabilities of the HKSAR's civil servants, and underscores the nation's care, trust and aspirations for Hong Kong's youth. The 16 officers come from the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau; the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; the Census and Statistics Department; the Civil Engineering and Development Department; the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department; the Department of Justice; the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department; the Hong Kong Observatory; the Hong Kong Police Force; the Intellectual Property Department; the Lands Department and the Independent Commission Against Corruption of the HKSAR Government. They will be working in the UN Headquarters, and the UN offices in Geneva, Switzerland; Vienna, Austria; and Nairobi, Kenya, as Chinese personnel, and will begin departing from this month for two-year tenures.

Addressing the Launch Ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said that the HKSAR Government will soon promulgate The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030), which will fully align with the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan, improve mechanisms for Hong Kong to assume a greater role in the country's opening up to the world, and harness Hong Kong's role as an important window for exchange and mutual learning between the Chinese and Western cultures. Hong Kong youth applying their professional expertise and perseverance on the international arena exemplifies the HKSAR's alignment with national strategies and contribution to overall national diplomacy. It is also Hong Kong's responsibility and mission to contribute to the nation's endeavours to promote the building of a global community with a shared future. The young public servants sent by Hong Kong to international organisations bring together the city's professional strengths and practical experience across a number of key fields. They will represent Hong Kong's glorious contributions towards helping the country fulfil its commitments as a leading nation to work with the international community in addressing the challenges of the times.

Mr Lee encouraged the third batch of officers with three "hearts", a heart for the nation, a heart for Hong Kong and a heart for the world. He urged them to serve as pioneers in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, as the driving force in promoting the high-quality development of the HKSAR, and as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" connecting the nation with the world. Mr Lee expressed his hope that the third batch of officers would build on the achievements of the preceding two batches, and tell authentic and compelling stories of Hong Kong on the international stage. He also encouraged them to transform their takeaways into an innovative mindset and momentum for propelling the socio-economic development of the HKSAR in the future.

Accompanied by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, Mr Lee had an exchange with the third batch of officers to learn about their preparation before departure, and wished them every success in their work in the UN. The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse Siu-wa, and a number of Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments also attended the Launch Ceremony.

The primary objective of the UN JPO Programme is to provide young professionals with opportunities to work and learn under the guidance of professional officers, thereby accumulating practical experience in the field of multilateral international co-operation. The HKSAR sent five and 12 young public officers recommended by the MFA to participate in the Programme in 2019 and 2023 respectively. They performed outstandingly and were highly commended by the UN side, with some having their tenures extended.

Third batch of HKSAR young public officers to work at United Nations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Third batch of HKSAR young public officers to work at United Nations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases