​Hong Kong Customs today (October 16) detected two drug trafficking cases at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 8.8 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds and 220 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with a total estimated market value of about $1.83 million.

     In the first case, during an anti-narcotics operation conducted at Hong Kong International Airport today, Customs officers intercepted a 43-year-old Mainland female passenger and found about 3.3 kg of suspected cannabis buds and 220 duty-not-paid cigarettes inside her carry-on baggage. She was subsequently arrested.

     In the second case, a 41-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday (October 15). During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 5.5 kg of suspected cannabis buds inside his carry-on baggage. He was subsequently arrested.

     The arrested woman in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of dutiable goods. The arrested man in the second case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The two cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (October 17).

     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.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     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).

    

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Twilight", a joint operation with the Labour Department codenamed "Rainbow", joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) codenamed "Champion", a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) codenamed "Flabbergast", a joint operation with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and a joint operation with Hong Kong Customs, the HKPF, the FEHD and the LCSD from October 9 to yesterday (October 15). During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including restaurants, retail stores and industrial buildings, etc. Twelve suspected illegal workers, one suspected employer, one suspected aider and abettor and one overstayer were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised eight men and four women, aged 20 to 54. Among them, one man was holding a recognisance form which prohibits him from taking any employment. One woman aged 47 was suspected of employing the illegal workers and was arrested. The suspected aider and abettor arrested was a woman aged 28. Furthermore, the arrested overstayer was a man aged 43. An investigation into the suspected employer is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
 
     An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties." 
 
     The spokesman warned, "As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years."
 
     The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
 
     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
 
     For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.