Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 22) seized about 1 kilogram of suspected ketamine, about 230 grams of suspected cocaine and about 30g of suspected crack cocaine with a total estimated market value of about $1 million in Sham Shui Po.
During an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Sham Shui Po yesterday evening, Customs officers intercepted a man and raided his residential premises. About 1kg of suspected ketamine, about 230g of suspected cocaine and about 30g of suspected crack cocaine as well as a batch of drug manufacturing and packaging paraphernalia were seized. The 25-year-old man was then arrested.
Also, Customs seized about 30kg of products suspected of containing tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC) with a total estimated market value of about $50,000 at Hong Kong International Airport and in Kowloon Bay on December 7 and today (December 23) respectively.
Customs officers inspected four air mail parcels from the United States at Hong Kong International Airport on December 7 and seized about 28kg of products suspected of containing THC.
After follow-up investigation, Customs officers today arrested two persons, including a 33-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man, suspected to be in connection with the case and further seized about 2kg of products suspected of containing THC at a commercial premises in Kowloon Bay.
Investigations of the two cases are ongoing.
Customs will continue to maintain close contact with Hongkong Post and the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through postal parcels or express courier channels.
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 Ordinance, cannabis and 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.
Customs also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary returns. 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, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.
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/Wednesday, December 23, 2020
