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Saturday, Apr 20, 2024
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Three including 16-year-old teen arrested in HK$70m drug bust
Customs seized over 170 kg of cannabis buds and "ice" drug worth HK$70 million at a cargo examination compound and the airport within two weeks, leading to the arrest of three suspects, including a 16-year-old teenager.
Officers inspected a seaborne consignment declared as containing oats from Canada at Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound on New Year's Eve and seized about 110 kg of suspected cannabis buds worth about HK$22.5 million inside a batch of oat packaging boxes.
After a follow-up investigation, a jobless 16-year-old teenager and a 34-year-old male truck driver were arrested in Yuen Long and Sheung Shui, respectively, for suspectedly being involved in this case on Thursday (Jan 13). The young man was responsible for collecting the drugs, according to customs.
Customs on Monday also inspected another air cargo consignment declared as carrying solar panels from Mexico at the airport and seized 63 kg of methamphetamine, commonly known as "ice" drug, worth about HK$47 million in two sets of solar panels.
Officers later arrested a 36-year-old female logistics company manager suspected to be connected to the case in Fanling the next day.
Customs added the investigation for these two cases is still ongoing.
Officers pointed out that they busted a similar case on December 6 last year, where cannabis buds were trafficked in the city in a cargo declared as containing oats from Canada.
Officers back then seized 108 kg of cannabis buds in that batch of goods and another 45 kilograms of cannabis buds in a warehouse. The seized cannabis buds were worth about HK$32 million in total. They added they will investigate if this case is related to the case busted in Kwai Chung.
On another note, customs called on the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. Citizens must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong, officers reminded.
They added that cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are classified as dangerous drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, and importation of products containing cannabis or THC into Hong Kong is prohibited unless otherwise approved.
Under the Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a severe offense. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of HK$5 million and life imprisonment.
After a follow-up investigation, a jobless 16-year-old teenager and a 34-year-old male truck driver were arrested in Yuen Long and Sheung Shui, respectively, for suspectedly being involved in this case on Thursday (Jan 13). The young man was responsible for collecting the drugs, according to customs.
Customs on Monday also inspected another air cargo consignment declared as carrying solar panels from Mexico at the airport and seized 63 kg of methamphetamine, commonly known as "ice" drug, worth about HK$47 million in two sets of solar panels.
Officers later arrested a 36-year-old female logistics company manager suspected to be connected to the case in Fanling the next day.
Customs added the investigation for these two cases is still ongoing.
Officers pointed out that they busted a similar case on December 6 last year, where cannabis buds were trafficked in the city in a cargo declared as containing oats from Canada.
Officers back then seized 108 kg of cannabis buds in that batch of goods and another 45 kilograms of cannabis buds in a warehouse. The seized cannabis buds were worth about HK$32 million in total. They added they will investigate if this case is related to the case busted in Kwai Chung.
On another note, customs called on the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. Citizens must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong, officers reminded.
They added that cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are classified as dangerous drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, and importation of products containing cannabis or THC into Hong Kong is prohibited unless otherwise approved.
Under the Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a severe offense. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of HK$5 million and life imprisonment.
