Hong Kong Customs seized a total of about 770 grams of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $810,000 from two female passengers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport on November 2. This is the third case of dangerous drugs internal concealment during the week from October 27 to November 2.
The two female passengers, aged 44 and 50, arrived in Hong Kong from Entebbe, Uganda via Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on November 2, and were about to depart for Macao. They were found to be suspicious upon customs clearance and were suspected to have dangerous drugs concealed inside their body cavities. They were then escorted to hospital for examination and later discharged the batch of suspected cocaine. They were arrested.
The two arrested women have each been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. Their cases will be brought up at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (November 5).
Including this case, Customs has effected three internal concealment of dangerous drugs cases in a row during the week from October 27 to November 2. Four persons were arrested in total. This case is also the eleventh internal concealment case effected by Customs this year. The arrested persons of nine cases departed from Africa while two remaining cases are from South America. Among the above mentioned 11 cases, arrested persons in four cases were about to transit to Macao.
Customs will continue to apply risk assessment strategy to select inbound, outbound and transit passengers for clearance to intercept different kinds of drug trafficking activities.
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 4, 2019
