Hong Kong Customs Seizes About 7kg of Suspected Cannabis Buds, Arrests Three Persons at Airport

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

Hong Kong Customs detected two trafficking drugs cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport today (September 19), and seized a total of about 7 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $ 1.4 million. Three men were arrested.

In the first case, a 40-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During customs clearance, Customs officer found about 1kg of suspected cannabis buds concealed in snack packaging inside his carry-on backpack. The man was then arrested.

In the second case, two Mainland male passengers, aged 35 and 37, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 6kg of suspected cannabis buds concealed in the snack packaging inside the carry-on baggage of one of the male passengers. The two men were subsequently arrested.

Investigations of the two cases are 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 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 detected two trafficking drugs cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport today (September 19), and seized a total of about 7 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $ 1.4 million. Three men were arrested. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds seized in the second case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detected two trafficking drugs cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport today (September 19), and seized a total of about 7 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $ 1.4 million. Three men were arrested. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds seized in the first case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes dried shark fins of suspected scheduled endangered species

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 7) seized about 31 kilograms of suspected scheduled dried shark fins of endangered species, with an estimated market value of about $130,000, at Hong Kong International Airport.

A 51-year-old Mainland female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Brazil via Ethiopia yesterday. She was intercepted for customs clearance at the arrivals hall of the airport. Customs officers found the batch of suspected scheduled dried shark fins inside her check-in baggage. Upon inspection by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the batch of dried shark fins was suspected to be from endangered species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong. The woman was subsequently arrested by the Customs officers. The case was handed over to the AFCD for follow-up investigation.

The arrested woman has been charged by the AFCD with one count of illegal import of an Appendix II species.

Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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 seizes dried shark fins of suspected scheduled endangered species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases