Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving passengers at airport
Hong Kong Customs detected a trafficking drug case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (October 6), and seized about 6 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.1 million. Two men were arrested.
A 43-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Manila, the Philippines, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds concealed in his carry-on suitcase. The man was then arrested. After investigations, Customs officers arrested a 52-year-old Mainland male passenger who arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday and was suspected to be connected with the case. Subsequently, Customs officers found 88 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage during Customs clearance.
The two arrested men has been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, and the second arrested man has been charged with one count of possession of dutiable goods and one count of failing to declare to a member of the Customs and Excise Service. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (October 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 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 passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Tung Chung today
The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a construction site in Tung Chung this afternoon (October 7), in which a male worker fell from height while dismantling a working platform on the external wall of a building under construction. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.
The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and have issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the erection, alteration, dismantling and use of the working platforms on the external walls of buildings at the site. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."
The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take action pursuant to the law if any violations are found during the investigation."
To prevent workers from falling from height while dismantling working platforms, the LD reminds contractors to take adequate preventive measures against falls, including providing every worker with a suitable full-body harness that is attached continuously to a suitable and secure anchor point, an independent lifeline or a fall arresting system, and ensuring that workers concerned properly use the above safety equipment throughout the work.
The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.
In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.
The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of the family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should also co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.
Source: AI-found images
