Hong Kong Customs detected three dangerous drugs cases on December 2, 6 and yesterday (December 13), and seized about 8.5 kilograms of suspected ketamine with a total estimated market value of about $4.9 million at Hong Kong International Airport and Tsing Yi. Three men were arrested.
In the first case, through risk assessment, Customs on December 2 inspected an air consignment, declared as carrying pet food, arriving in Hong Kong from the United Kingdom at the airport. Upon inspection, about 5kg of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $2.9 million was found concealed inside two bags of dog food.
After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested an 18-year-old man and a 45-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case at Tsing Yi and San Po Kong respectively.
Customs officers later escorted the 18-year-old arrested man to a residential unit near Tsing Yi for a search and further seized about 500 grams of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of $300,000, and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia.
In the second case, through risk assessment, Customs officers on December 6 examined an inbound air consignment arriving in Hong Kong from Italy at the airport. About 1kg of suspected ketamine was found mix-loaded with a bag of cat litter.
After a follow-up investigation, Customs tracked and identified another inbound consignment arriving in Hong Kong from Italy and examined it at the airport yesterday. Two bags of cat litter mingled with 2kg of suspected ketamine were seized, leading to successful detection of the third dangerous drugs case. Customs officers then mounted a controlled delivery operation in Tuen Mun on the same day and arrested a 19-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case.
The total estimated market value of the suspected ketamine seized in the second and third cases was about $1.7 million.
The 18-year-old and 19-year-old men have each been charged with two counts of trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts and Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts respectively tomorrow (December 15). The 45-year-old man has been released after an investigation.
With the Christmas and New Year holidays approaching, Customs will further step up enforcement action to fiercely combat drug trafficking activities before the long holidays.
Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.
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).
