Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 24) detected two cross-boundary drug trafficking cases through passenger and cargo channels at Hong Kong International Airport and seized a total of about 42.1 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, ketamine and cocaine, with an estimated market value of over $30 million.
Customs officers yesterday inspected two air express parcels from Malaysia transshipping to Japan through Hong Kong. About 28.6kg of suspected methamphetamine were found concealed inside five LED television sets. This is the largest methamphetamine seizure from the air cargo channel in the past three years.
Also, a 27-year-old male passenger and a 26-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Brussels, Belgium on the same flight yesterday. Customs officers inspected their checked-in baggage and found a total of about 10.3kg of suspected ketamine and about 3.2kg of suspected cocaine concealed inside false compartments. They were then arrested.
Investigations of both cases are ongoing.
Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary drug trafficking activities through passenger and cargo channels at the airport through strategies of risk-profiling and intelligence analysis.
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 dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, November 25, 2019
