Hong Kong Customs Seizes About 1kg of Suspected Cocaine at Airport, Arrests 26-Year-Old Male Passenger

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cocaine worth about $750,000 at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 16) detected a drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport. About 1 kilogram of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $750,000 was seized.

A 26-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. During Customs clearance, the batch of suspected cocaine was found in the shoes he was wearing. The male was subsequently arrested.

The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in adangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (September 18).

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 (September 16) seized about 1 kilogram of suspected cocaine, with an estimated market value of about $750,000, at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo shows the suspected cocaine seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 17) 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 a 31-year-old incoming Mainland male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on August 8 and seized about 133 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $548,600 and a duty potential of about $442,000, from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects 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).

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (September 17) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases