Hong Kong Customs seized about 2 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine and about 980 grams of suspected cocaine at Hong Kong International Airport on January 4 and yesterday (January 6) respectively with a total estimated market value of about $2.3 million.
Customs officers inspected an air parcel arriving in Hong Kong from Malaysia on January 4 and found the batch of suspected methamphetamine concealed inside seven cans of food products.
Upon a follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a 27-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man in Siu Sai Wan suspected to be in connection with the case.
Also, a 44-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday. He was suspected to have dangerous drugs concealed inside his body cavity and was escorted to hospital for examination. He later discharged 980 grams of suspected cocaine.
Investigations of the two cases are ongoing.
Customs will maintain close contact with Hongkong Post and the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through postal parcels and express courier channels.
At the same time, Customs will also apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance, and further step up enforcement actions before the Chinese New Year holiday with a view to combat transnational drug trafficking effectively.
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).
Ends/Tuesday, January 7, 2020
