Hong Kong Customs seized about 3 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $570,000 at Hong Kong International Airport on May 20.
Customs officers inspected an air mail parcel arriving in Hong Kong from the United States on May 20 and seized the batch of suspected cannabis buds inside the parcel.
After follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday (May 22) arrested a 19-year-old man in Chai Wan suspected to be in connection with the case.
Investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs will 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.
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, May 23, 2019
