Hong Kong Customs Seizes 5.8kg of Cannabis and Arrests Passenger at Airport

Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport

Hong Kong Customs today (September 19) detected one drug trafficking case involving incoming air passenger at Hong Kong International Airport, and seized a total of about 5.8 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds and 12 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with a total estimated market value of about $1.2 million. A man was arrested.

A 47-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds and duty-not-cigarettes inside his check-in baggage and in his possession respectively. 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, 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 detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species

Hong Kong Customs today (September 19) seized ten live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species, with an estimated market value of about $20,000, at Hong Kong International Airport.

Through risk assessment, Customs officers intercepted a parcel declared as containing women's knitted short-sleeve tops from the United States to Hong Kong today. Upon inspection, a batch of live turtles of suspected endangered species was found inside a carton box.

The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up action.

Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), 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 live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases