Hong Kong Customs smashed two heroin smuggling cases at the Hong Kong International Airport in two weeks and seized a total of 1.5 kilograms of heroin with a value of about $1.3 million.
In the first case, Customs officers of the Airport Command selected an air consignment parcel declared as a metal gear from Tanzania, East Africa, for examination on August 2, and seized 0.7kg of heroin. The drug was found concealed in a metal gear and could only be detected until the metal gear was cut apart by a saw.
Customs officers of the Airport Command continued to closely monitor this smuggling method and routing. This morning (August 15), another air consignment parcel declared as a metal gear from Tanzania was selected for examination and 0.8kg of heroin with the same concealment method was unveiled. The seized dangerous drugs are believed to belong to the same syndicate. Investigation is ongoing.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking is a serious offence. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
Ends/Thursday, August 15 2013
