Hong Kong Customs on December 3 detected a dangerous drugs internal concealment case involving two incoming passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 1.8 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $2 million.
Two female passengers, aged 58 and 41, arrived in Hong Kong from Paris, France, on that day. During Customs clearance, Customs officers suspected that the passengers had dangerous drugs concealed inside their body cavities. They were then escorted to the hospital for examination. Upon examination, a doctor confirmed that foreign objects were concealed inside their body cavities. They were arrested immediately. As at 1pm today (December 5), the arrested persons have discharged 228 pellets of suspected cocaine weighing about 1.8kg in total.
The arrested women each have been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (December 6).
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/Tuesday, December 5, 2023
