Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 13) detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about two kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $2.2 million. One woman was arrested.
A 55-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Windhoek, Namibia, via Addis Ababa of Ethiopia and Dubai of the United Arab Emirates yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed in the false compartments of her carry-on handbag. She was subsequently arrested.
The arrested woman has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. She will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on October 16.
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) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Ends/Saturday, October 14, 2023
