Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine worth about $50 million at airport
Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport over the past two days (March 29 and 30) and seized a total of about 102 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $50 million.
The first case involved two female passengers, both aged 23, who arrived in Hong Kong from Frankfurt, Germany, on March 29. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 81kg of suspected ketamine inside their check-in suitcases. They were subsequently arrested. The arrested persons have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug.
In the second case, a 27-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, yesterday (March 30). Customs officers seized about 21kg of suspected ketamine from her checked-in suitcase during customs clearance. The woman was subsequently arrested.
The two cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court tomorrow (April 1).
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
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 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/en).
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine worth about $50 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine worth about $50 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
