Hong Kong Customs and Macao Customs conducted a joint operation codenamed "Turbine II" to step up enforcement action against cross-boundary drug trafficking activities between Hong Kong and Macao from December 1 last year to yesterday (January 15). During the operation, Hong Kong Customs detected 15 outbound dangerous drug cases from Hong Kong to Macao and arrested 17 persons. A total of about 3.1 kilograms of different kinds of suspected dangerous drugs with an estimated market value of about $3.1 million were seized.
Fifteen men and two women, aged between 16 and 47, were arrested in the cases. The seized suspected dangerous drugs included cocaine, ketamine and cannabis.
Of the 15 cases, three were effected at Hong Kong International Airport. Three transiting male passengers who arrived in Hong Kong, one from the United Arab Emirates and two from Ethiopia, and planned to go to Macao via the SkyPier were arrested.
One of the passengers was found to have two check-in suitcases with about 1kg of suspected cocaine concealed inside the trolley frames. The other two cases are internal concealment cases in which two passengers have discharged a total of about 1.69kg of suspected cocaine in hospital.
The remaining 12 cases were detected at locations including the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, the China Ferry Terminal and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and involved a small quantity of suspected dangerous drugs. The arrested persons were passengers travelling to Macao from Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Customs has all along been intercepting drug trafficking activities at all outgoing and incoming channels. Members of the public are reminded that criminals may post recruitment advertisements on unknown websites and social media platforms to lure citizens into carrying dangerous drugs or various controlled items. They should stay alert and not carry unknown items for other people.
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.
Hong Kong Customs believes that the joint operation has effectively combated cross-boundary drug trafficking between Hong Kong and Macao. The department will continue to conduct joint operations with Macao Customs in order to deter drug trafficking activities between the two places.
Hong Kong Customs will continue stringent law enforcement at every boundary control point to combat cross-boundary trafficking activities involving dangerous drugs.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Hong Kong Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, January 16, 2020
