Hong Kong Customs foiled an attempted cross-boundary drug trafficking activity yesterday (July 16) and arrested a 52-year-old Filipino man after seizing four kilogrammes of methamphetamine ("ice"), with an estimated street value of $3 million.
Customs officers last night mounted an anti-narcotics operation at the Hong Kong International Airport. Shortly before 9.30pm, the officers intercepted the Filipino at the Departure Hall as he was about to leave for Manila. A false compartment, specially made with a wooden plank and fastened with eight screws, was found in his check-in suitcase. Inside the false compartment were 13 packets of "ice", weighing approximately four kilogrammes.
The arrested man will be charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (July 18).
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
Hong Kong Customs will spare no effort to support the anti-narcotics work personally supervised by the Chief Executive and carry out multi-pronged measures to tackle youth drugs abuse and drug trafficking. Meanwhile, Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with overseas and Mainland counterparts for intelligence exchange to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Ends/Friday, July 17, 2009
