Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 22) seized about 2.8 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $3.1 million at Hong Kong International Airport.
Customs officers inspected an air cargo consignment arriving in Hong Kong from Ethiopia yesterday. The batch of suspected cocaine was found concealed inside five wooden products. A 17-year-old man suspected to be in connection with the case was arrested.
The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (June 24).
Customs will continue to step up enforcement actions against drug trafficking 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 flow of drugs into 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/Tuesday, June 23, 2020
