Hong Kong Customs on September 10 detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about three kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $2.4 million. One man was arrested.
A 30-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Doha, Qatar, on that day. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine strapped around his waist. He was subsequently arrested.
The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (September 13).
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 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) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
Ends/Tuesday, September 12, 2023
