Hong Kong Customs seized about 1 kilogram of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated value of about $260,000 at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on September 11.
Customs officers on that day inspected an air parcel that arrived in Hong Kong from Canada, declared as gifts, at HKIA and found the batch of suspected cannabis buds concealed inside two waterproof bags, which were mixed with clothes.
After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers arrested two men, aged 17 and 16, who collected the parcel in Ngau Chi Wan the next day.
An investigation is ongoing. The two arrested men were released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs has detected 29 dangerous drugs cases involving teenagers aged 18 or below since last year. A total of 33 teenagers, including 31 men and two women, were arrested.
Customs reminds teenagers that they should not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary returns. Members of the public should also avoid releasing their personal data or address to others for receiving mail or goods. They should not receive mail and goods for others.
Customs also appeals to parents to keep an eye on their children's friends, in order to prevent children from taking part in drug trafficking activities under peer influence.
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. It will also lead to a criminal record that would exert a considerable impact on teenagers' further education as well as other aspects.
Under the Ordinance, cannabis and tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC) are classified as dangerous drugs. Importation of products (including food or drinks) containing cannabis or THC into Hong Kong is prohibited unless the relevant provisions in the Ordinance are complied with. In order to avoid breaching the law inadvertently, special attention should be paid to the packaging labels of those products.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, September 15, 2020
