Hong Kong Customs seized about 17.2 kilograms of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $14.9 million at Lok Ma Chau Control Point on June 11. This is the largest drug trafficking case detected by Customs at land boundary control points this year.
Customs officers at Lok Ma Chau Control Point on that day inspected four express parcels, which arrived in Hong Kong from Malaysia via Shenzhen, declared as containing range hoods and found the batch of suspected heroin concealing inside four range hoods.
Upon follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday (June 12) arrested a 15-year-old man suspected to be in connection with the case in Tsuen Wan.
The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of willfully obstructing a member of the Customs and Excise Department in the due execution of his duty. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts next Monday (June 15).
Customs will continue to step up enforcement actions against drug trafficking activities through air cargo, postal parcel and express courier channels, as well as maintain close contact with Hongkong Post and the logistics industries, with a view to intercepting the inflow of drugs to Hong Kong.
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/Saturday, June 13, 2020
