Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 29) detected two cross-boundary drug trafficking cases consecutively through the air parcel channel at Hong Kong International Airport and seized a total of about 3.1 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $700,000. Four adolescents involved in the cases were arrested.
Customs officers yesterday inspected two air parcels, both declared as carrying clothes and Christmas decorations, that arrived from the United States. About 1.5kg and 1.6kg of suspected cannabis buds were seized respectively.
After follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested three males, aged between 12 and 14, suspected to be connected with the first case at a residential premises in Tai Kok Tsui. Regarding another case, Customs officers also arrested a 16-year-old male suspected to be connected with the case at a residential premises in Kowloon City on the same day.
The four arrested males have declared themselves as students.
As the two parcels' packing and concealment methods resembled each other to a large extent, Customs does not rule out that the two cases are connected and is now pursuing in-depth investigations.
Customs 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.
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 in 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.
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 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/Wednesday, December 30, 2020
