​Hong Kong Customs on August 29 seized about 230 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $180 million in Kwai Chung. A 53-year-old man was arrested.
During an anti-narcotics operation conducted earlier, Customs discovered that drug trafficking syndicates had exploited units of industrial buildings as drug storage centres. Customs officers therefore took action and raided an industrial building unit in Kwai Chung on August 29 and seized 190 bricks, each weighing about 1.2kg, of suspected cocaine therein. The total weight of the drugs seized was about 230kg, with an estimated market value of about $180 million.
A follow-up investigation led to the arrest of a 53-year-old man, who was suspected to be connected with the case, in Tai Kok Tsui on August 30.
Customs believes the operation has successfully intercepted the inflow of the batch of drugs to local markets. An investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
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/Wednesday, September 13, 2023
