Hong Kong Customs seized a batch of suspected dangerous drugs including about 2.6 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds, 35 grams of suspected heroin and 360 tablets of suspected midazolam, with an estimated market value of about $500,000, at Hong Kong International Airport and Sham Shui Po on December 24, 2018, and yesterday (January 2).
Customs officers inspected an air mail parcel from the United States on December 24 and seized the suspected cannabis buds contained in vacuum-sealed bags inside the parcel.
After follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a man suspected to be in connection with the case in Sham Shui Po. Customs officers further seized about 35g of suspected heroin and 360 tablets of suspected midazolam at a residential premises in the district where a set of drug inhalation apparatus was also seized.
The arrested man, aged 50, has been charged with two counts of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of apparatus fit and intended for the inhalation of a dangerous drug. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (January 4).
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.
Customs also reminds that cannabis and tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC) are classified as dangerous drugs under the Ordinance. Importation of products (including food and 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 food and drinks.
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/Thursday, January 3, 2019
