Hong Kong Customs seized about nine kilogrammes of suspected cocaine worth about $10 million at Hong Kong International Airport today (December 8) and arrested two incoming passengers travelling together.
The arrested persons, a 21-year-old man who claimed to be unemployed and a 20-year-old woman who claimed to be a cashier, arrived at Hong Kong from São Paulo, Brazil via Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Upon baggage examination, Customs officers found 12 cans of canned fruit in the female passenger's checked-in suitcase. Subsequent to in-depth inspection, the cans were found containing the suspected drugs.
The two arrestees will be jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and appear at Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (December 9).
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking is a serious offence. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to keep track of the latest drugs trafficking trend and formulate pertinent anti-narcotics enforcement strategy. The Department will strengthen intelligence exchange with various overseas law enforcement agencies so as to combat transnational drugs trafficking activities collaboratively.
Ends/Monday, December 8, 2014
