Hong Kong Customs Seizes About 7kg of Suspected Cannabis Buds at the Airport, Arresting a Passenger

Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving passenger at airport

Hong Kong Customs today (November 13) detected a drug trafficking case involving a passenger at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and seized about seven kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.46 million.

During an anti-narcotics operation conducted at HKIA, Customs officers intercepted a 57-year-old Mainland male passenger and found a batch of suspected cannabis buds inside his carry-on baggage. He was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (November 14).

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 today (November 13) detected a drug trafficking case involving a passenger at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about seven kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.46 million. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Police and CAD remind public of establishment of temporary restricted flying zones

The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) today (November 13) remind members of the public that in connection with the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting to be held in Shenzhen, temporary restricted flying zones (RFZs) will be established in Hong Kong from 12.01am on November 17 to 11.59pm on November 20 for the following flying activities:

The 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Photo source: CGTN

(1) New Territories North temporary RFZ (Zone A)

A temporary RFZ (Zone A) will be established in the New Territories North, with the exact coverage detailed in Annex 1. The following flying activities are prohibited within this zone:

• unmanned aircraft (except with special permission from the HKPF and the CAD);

• paragliding;

• airships;

• kites;

• captive balloons; and

• mass release of balloons.

Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

(2) Territory-wide temporary RFZ (Zone B)

Except for the Government Flying Service, all helicopters and light aircraft are prohibited from conducting any flying activities within the territory-wide temporary RFZ (Zone B), with the exact coverage detailed in Annex 2.

Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Details of the above temporary RFZs have been promulgated to airlines and pilots by the CAD via an Aeronautical Information Publication Supplement. The CAD has also uploaded details of the temporary RFZs for small unmanned aircraft onto the electronic portal for small unmanned aircraft, "eSUA".

The HKPF and the CAD remind members of the public that any person who conducts flying activities within the above temporary RFZs without special permission commits an offence, and, upon conviction, is liable to a fine and imprisonment. Members of the public are urged not to defy the law.