Hong Kong – Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $5.4 million at airport (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 24) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 24 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $5.4 million.
      
     Two male passengers and two female passengers, aged between 21 and 29, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found a total of about 24kg of suspected cannabis buds inside their check-in suitcases. They were subsequently arrested.
      
     An investigation is ongoing.
      
     Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not 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.
      
     Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
      
     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 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).