Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 24) detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 1 kilogram of suspected cocaine and about 1 gram of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.2 million.
A 54-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Mexico City, Mexico, via Paris, France, yesterday. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed inside a false compartment of a backpack in his check-in suitcase. The man was then arrested. Subsequently, Customs officers also found about 1 gram of suspected cannabis buds inside his carry-on sling bag.
An investigation is ongoing.
Following the increasing number of visitors to Hong Kong, 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/Thursday, April 25, 2024
