Hong Kong Customs made a record seizure of ketamine and smashed a transnational ketamine syndicate in an operation code-named "Bayonet" conducted in the Hong Kong International Airport, Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom in the past two days (March 13 and 14).
A total of 87.5 kilograms of high-graded ketamine, with an estimated retail value of HK$30 million, were seized. Four Singaporean men and three Malaysian men, aged between 43 and 50, were arrested. They will later be charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs.
The success of Operation "Bayonet" is attributed to the intelligence exchange among Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, Anti-smuggling Bureaux of Shenzhen Customs and Guangzhou Customs, coupled with the cooperation rendered by Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore, Royal Malaysian Police of Malaysia and India Customs.
The Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Mr Timothy Tong, commended the officers involved for their competence and professionalism in cracking the case.
Commissioner Tong said, "By conducting vigorous law enforcement actions and maintaining intensive and frequent intelligence exchange with other jurisdictions, we ensure that Hong Kong will not become a transit point for illicit drugs.
"Indeed this successful case clearly demonstrates that drug traffickers will pay a very high price if they want to conduct criminal activities in Hong Kong.
"Since we do not rule out the possibility that the seized ketamine was intended for the Mainland market, the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Customs authorities will step up intelligence exchanges and mount more joint operations. On the top management level, we have direct dialogues to speedily exchange intelligence. On the operational level, the frontline staff also have very close day-to-day cooperation and joint efforts in combating illicit drug activities," Commissioner Tong said.
Briefing the media about the operation today (March 15) were the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr William Chow; the Head of Customs Drug Investigation Bureau, Mr Ben Leung; and the Head of the Air Passenger and Apron Group, Ms Kwok Ngan-ping.
Mr Chow said that there is a demand for ketamine in the Mainland China and Hong Kong. Intelligence revealed an emerging trend of smuggling ketamine into Hong Kong and the Mainland from sources in South East Asian countries, particularly India and Malaysia, as evidenced by the seizure of 94.7 kilograms of ketamine up to now in 2005 compared to the total seizure of 4.8 kilograms in 2004.
Accordingly, Hong Kong Customs initiated the operation "Bayonet" in early February 2005 with a view to detecting the smuggling of ketamine into Hong Kong and neighbouring regions.
About 3pm on March 13, Customs officers of the Airport Command intercepted a Malaysian man arriving in Hong Kong via India and Singapore for Customs clearance. From his baggage, 32 cans of milk powder containing 16 kilograms of high-graded ketamine were found.
In a subsequent controlled delivery operation, officers of Customs Drug Investigation Bureau arrested three Singaporean men and two Malaysian men at hotels respectively in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom. They further seized 109 cans of milk powder containing 54.5 kilograms of high-graded ketamine, and HK$600,000 banknotes.
On March 14, one more Singaporean man was arrested at the Hong Kong International Airport and 34 cans of milk powder containing 17 kilograms of ketamine were seized.
Mr Chow said, "As the Easter Holiday is approaching, it is believed that drug traffickers may attempt to smuggle drugs into and through Hong Kong and other destinations to meet the demand in the holidays. Hong Kong is conveniently located in the region and has excellent international transport links. Criminals may attempt to make use of our facilities to traffic in dangerous drugs.
"Apart from maintaining our high vigilance, the Department will continue to cooperate and liaise closely with overseas jurisdictions and the Mainland authorities in order to effectively combat drug trafficking and to combat drug activities at source," Mr Chow said.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking is a serious offence. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment and a fine of HK$5 million.
Ends/Tuesday, March 15, 2005