Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 8) detected a dangerous drugs internal concealment case involving two incoming passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 1 kilogram of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $1 million.
      
     A 37-year-old male passenger and a 41-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Paris, France, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers suspected that the passengers had dangerous drugs concealed inside their body cavities. They were then escorted to the hospital for examination.
      
     Upon examination, they were confirmed by a doctor to have foreign objects concealed inside their body cavities. They were arrested immediately. As at 8pm today (April 9), the arrested persons have discharged 120 pellets of suspected cocaine weighing about 1 kilogram in total.
      
     The arrested persons have been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug respectively. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (April 10).
      
     Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily. 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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

     ​Hong Kong Customs detected a case which involved a local company having conducted a transaction of precious stones with total value above HK$120,000 without a registration during the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show held at AsiaWorld-Expo between February 27 and March 2. The investigation is ongoing and three arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation.

     This is the first case effected by Hong Kong Customs after the end of the nine-month transitional period for registration (i.e. April to December 2023) under the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime (the Regime).

     According to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), the Regime has come into effect since April 1, 2023. Any person who is seeking to carry out a business of dealing in precious metals and stones in Hong Kong, and engage in any transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with total value at or above HK$120,000 in Hong Kong is required to register with the Commissioner of Customs and Excise. Any dealer, other than a registrant, claims to be a registrant, claims to be authorised to carry out, or carries out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with total value at or above HK$120,000 is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     Hong Kong Customs reminds all dealers in precious metals and stones that, with the expiry of the transitional period, any dealer who submit their applications for registration from January 1, 2024 onwards must successfully obtain relevant registration before they can carry out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with total value at or above HK$120,000.

     For the forms, procedures and guidelines to submit applications for registration, please visit the website for Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Registration System (www.drs.customs.gov.hk) or the C&ED’s webpage (www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/anti-money-laundering/supervision-of-dealers-in-precious-metals-and-ston/index.html).

     Members of the public may report any suspected transactions involving precious metals and stones with total value at or above HK$120,000, conducted without the required registration 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/).

     Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport on February 13. About six kilograms of suspected cocaine were seized with an estimated market value of about $5.5 million.
      
     The case involved two incoming female passengers, aged 58 and 48. The first arrested woman arrived in Hong Kong from Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 13. During customs clearance, the batch of suspected cocaine was found concealed inside her check-in baggage. The woman was subsequently arrested. 
      
     After a follow-up investigation, another woman suspected to be connected with the case was also arrested at the airport yesterday (February 14).
      
      The two arrested persons have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. They will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (February 16).
      
     Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily. 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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

     ​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 26) mounted an anti-smuggling operation in Tung Chung and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a speedboat. A batch of suspected smuggled goods, with an estimated market value of about $4 million, was seized.

     Early yesterday morning, Customs conducted an anti-smuggling operation in Ma Wan Chung, Tung Chung and spotted a light goods vehicle heading towards a waterfront. Later, several suspicious persons gathered at the waterfront were seen transferring the goods from the vehicle onto the speedboat. They were suspected of engaging in smuggling activities.

     Customs officers immediately took action, and the above-mentioned persons swiftly jumped onto the speedboat and fled to the Mainland waters. 

     Later, Customs officers discovered another light goods vehicle which was loaded with goods in the same packing. It was suspected to be connected with the same smuggling activity.

     A batch of suspected smuggled goods, including 24 carton boxes of frozen venison tails, 14 carton boxes of aquarium animals, and ten bags of suspected scheduled dried shark fins, was seized. Two light goods vehicles suspected to be connected with the case were also detained.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against cross-boundary smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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/).

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 10) mounted an anti-smuggling operation in the vicinity of Tai O, Lantau Island, and detected a suspected smuggling case using speedboats. About 3 100 kilograms of suspected smuggled lobsters, with an estimated market value of about $1.24 million, were seized. 

     Customs officers yesterday conducted an anti-smuggling operation in the vicinity of Tai O and observed five electric tricycles loaded with goods moving slowly towards the seashore. Also, some men were seen gathering at the seashore. Later, two suspicious speedboats were seen heading towards the seashore with its navigation lights off, and two of the electric tricycles approached the seashore immediately. The drivers of the two tricycles and the above-mentioned persons quickly transferred the goods from the vehicles onto the speedboats, and were suspected of engaging in smuggling activities. 

     Customs officers immediately took action, and the above-mentioned persons and the two tricycle drivers swiftly jumped onto the speedboat and fled to Mainland waters. The rest of the drivers abandoned their tricycles and ran away from the scene.

     During the operation, Customs officers seized about 3 100kg of suspected smuggled lobsters. Five electric tricycles, all suspected to be involved in the case, were also detained.

     An investigation is ongoing. 

     Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against cross-boundary smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
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     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling 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/).