​Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (March 8). About seven kilograms of suspected heroin were seized with an estimated market value of about $6.7 million.
The case involved two local male passengers, aged 26 and 34. The first arrested man arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, the batch of suspected heroin was found concealed in 14 boxes of food items inside his check-in baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.
After a follow-up investigation, another man suspected to be connected with the case was also arrested at the airport today (March 9).
The two arrested persons have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. They will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on March 11.
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, March 9, 2024
