​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 22) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport. About 33.5 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $16.5 million were seized.
One 27-year-old female passenger and one 29-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Maputo, Mozambique, via Doha, Qatar, yesterday. During Customs clearance, the batch of suspected methamphetamine was found concealed at the back of 10 pieces of oil paintings and inside 54 handicrafts in their check-in suitcases. The duo were subsequently arrested.
Case 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) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Ends/Saturday, December 23, 2023
