
Hong Kong woman arrested over 31kg narcotics bust worth HK$12 million
A 28-year-old finance worker has been arrested at Hong Kong International Airport after flying in from Canada, following the detection of narcotics with an estimated street value of HK$12 million (US$1.5 million) in her luggage.
The Hong Kong resident, who arrived from Vancouver, was intercepted by police on Saturday, and her carry-on suitcases were examined, according to Inspector Ng Ka-wai from the narcotics bureau.
Officers discovered about 15kg (33lbs) of suspected 'Ice' and 16kg of suspected cannabis buds.
She remained in custody and will be charged with drug trafficking before appearing in West Kowloon Court on Monday, Ng confirmed.
Police believe the woman was recruited by a drug trafficking syndicate and may have been lured by financial incentives.
The force reiterated its zero-tolerance stance against drug trafficking, warning of serious consequences for anyone involved in such activities.
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South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
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(2) At one point, Chan was dealing with loans from six places, none of which were licensed lenders. (3) Lenders are not allowed to charge fees over the stated interest rate. (4) Chan got out of debt after a friend lent him money. A. (1), (3) only B. (2), (3) only C. (2), (4) only D. (3), (4) only 2. According to the news, list TWO ways loan sharks manipulate their victims. 3. List ONE positive and ONE negative outcome of Chan's experience with predatory loan companies. Illustration Question prompts 1. What is being shown in the illustration? How does it relate to the information in the news? 2. Based on your own knowledge and what you learned in the news, how did predatory lenders get the nickname 'loan shark'? Glossary bankruptcy: a legal process that helps a person or business who cannot repay their debts. Bankruptcy grants them relief by either wiping out what they owe or making a plan for them to pay over time. However, they may be forced to sell things they own, and it could be more difficult for them to get loans in the future. interest rates: the amount you are charged for borrowing money – a percentage of the total amount of the loan. For example, if you borrow HK$1,000 at a 10 per cent interest rate, it means you will repay HK$1,100. loan sharks: people or businesses that lend money but charge extremely high interest rates and may even use threats of violence to collect debts scrutinise: to examine something very carefully in order to discover information Sample answers News 1. D 2. One way loan sharks manipulate their victims is by bombarding them with messages and offers of 'help'. Even after Chan paid off all his debts, loan sharks continued to contact and harass him, falsely claiming that he still owed them money. This can stress out vulnerable and unaware individuals. Additionally, moneylenders collect all of a borrower's contact information, as well as that of their family and friends, so they can harass others in the victim's network. Finally, loan sharks charge hidden handling fees, which take advantage of vulnerable individuals who lack the funds to repay their debts. They may resort to borrowing more money from other loan sharks to pay the fees, continuing the cycle. 3. A positive outcome for Chan was that he managed to break the cycle of borrowing and repaying, thanks to a friend lending him money. He was no longer in debt. However, the value of the flat he inherited dropped by more than half, forcing him to sell it. Unfortunately, he was left with very little money after paying off his debts. Illustration 1. This cartoon shows a man stranded on a boat surrounded by sharks. The man seems desperate to grab the money being handed to him by a 'finance company', as it says on the sleeve. 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South China Morning Post
16 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong woman arrested over 31kg narcotics bust worth HK$12 million
A 28-year-old finance worker has been arrested at Hong Kong International Airport after flying in from Canada, following the detection of narcotics with an estimated street value of HK$12 million (US$1.5 million) in her luggage. The Hong Kong resident, who arrived from Vancouver, was intercepted by police on Saturday, and her carry-on suitcases were examined, according to Inspector Ng Ka-wai from the narcotics bureau. Officers discovered about 15kg (33lbs) of suspected 'Ice' and 16kg of suspected cannabis buds. She remained in custody and will be charged with drug trafficking before appearing in West Kowloon Court on Monday, Ng confirmed. Police believe the woman was recruited by a drug trafficking syndicate and may have been lured by financial incentives. The force reiterated its zero-tolerance stance against drug trafficking, warning of serious consequences for anyone involved in such activities.


South China Morning Post
19 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
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