Hong Kong Customs made a record seizure of suspected methamphetamine (commonly known as "ice"), following the discovery of over 500 kilograms of the drug with an estimated market value of about $300 million at the Tsing Yi Customs Cargo Examination Compound on October 29.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers on that day examined a 40-feet transshipment container that was declared as a consignment of 1 168 bags of cement. The container earlier departed from Mexico and arrived in Vietnam via Korea. Later, it arrived in Hong Kong and was destined for Australia through Singapore.
After a search, Customs officers found two vacuum-packed cartons hidden in each of 251 cement-loaded bags in the consignment. Two bags, each carrying about 500 grams of suspected "ice", were found in each carton.
Investigation is ongoing.
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).
Ends/Monday, November 2, 2020
