Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 1) smashed a syndicate suspected to be involved in the smuggling of cold medicine from Egypt to the Mainland via Hong Kong. The medicine contained a high percentage of pseudoephedrine, which could be used for the manufacture of methamphetamine.
In the operation, four men aged between 28 and 38 were arrested with the seizure of 54 kilogrammes of cold medicine valued at about $96,000. It is estimated that the cold medicine could produce 15 kilogrammes of methamphetamine with a market value of $9.6 million.
Customs officers identified a passenger arriving from Egypt at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday afternoon. He was carrying two check-in suitcases and, after leaving the Airport, delivered them to two men in Sheung Shui. The three men were later intercepted and arrested by Customs officers when the suitcases were found to contain 48 kilogrammes of cold medicine. Subsequent search on another man nearby led to a further seizure of 6 kilogrammes of cold medicine.
The arrested persons will be charged with importing a controlled chemical under the Control of Chemicals Ordinance and will appear at Fanling Magistrates' Courts on November 4.
Under the Control of Chemicals Ordinance, anyone found guilty of importing a controlled chemical without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $1 million and imprisonment for 15 years.
Ends//Saturday, November 2 2013
