Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cocaine worth over $1.1 million at airport
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 10) detected a drug trafficking case involving a passenger at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 1.45 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of over $1.1 million. A man was arrested.
A 30-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Entebbe, Uganda via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed in 7 pieces of cardboard inside his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.
After an investigation, the arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 12).
Following the increasing number of visitors to Hong Kong, 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).
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cocaine worth over $1.1 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
