​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 17) detected an incoming passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 980 grams of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $1.06 million.
A 25-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Brazil via Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found seven perfume packaging cans with false compartments inside her checked-in baggage, which were used to conceal suspected cocaine, weighing about 980g in total. The woman was subsequently arrested.
An investigation is ongoing.
Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily. Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational 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/Sunday, June 18, 2023
