Hong Kong Customs on December 12 seized about 10 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.43 million at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. A man was arrested.
Through risk assessment, Customs on that day inspected at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point an express parcel, which was declared as oil flow control valve, arriving in Hong Kong from South Africa via the Mainland. Upon examination, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds therein.
Customs officers subsequently mounted a controlled delivery operation yesterday (December 14) and arrested a 38-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case in Pat Heung, Yuen Long. He has been charged with one count of attempting to traffic in a dangerous drug and will appear at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (December 16).
Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. 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.
Customs will continue to maintain close contact with the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through 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.
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) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
Ends/Friday, December 15, 2023
