Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine worth about $9 million and HK$420,000 in cash
Hong Kong Customs and anti-smuggling departments of the Mainland Customs conducted a joint operation. Through intelligence analysis, Hong Kong Customs intercepted two express parcels from Belgium, declared as pesticides, that were sent to Hong Kong via the Chinese Mainland on October 24 and yesterday (October 28) and discovered a total of 20 kilograms of suspected ketamine concealed inside plastic buckets from the parcels. The total estimated market value was about $9 million.
Customs officers subsequently mounted a controlled delivery operation yesterday and arrested two men, aged 21 and 77, suspected to be connected with the case in Cheung Sha Wan. Customs officers also seized HK$420,000 in cash from the 21-year-old man's private car.
The two men have been charged with two counts of attempting to traffic in a dangerous drug and will appear in the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court tomorrow (October 30).
Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to 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, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.
Customs will continue to maintain close contact with Hongkong Post and the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through postal parcel or express courier channels.
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).
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine worth about $9 million and HK$420,000 in cash Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
