Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving passengers at airport
Hong Kong Customs for two consecutive days (January 29 and 30) detected three drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 9 kilograms of suspected heroin and about 41kg of suspected ketamine, with a total estimated market value of about $19 million. Three males were arrested. Customs officers also seized three sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes from the carry-on baggage of one of the males.
The first case involved a 31-year-old male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, via Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, yesterday (January 29). During Customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected heroin, weighing about 9kg with an estimated market value of about $5 million, in his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.
In the second case, a 34-year-old male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Berlin, Germany, via Doha, Qatar, yesterday. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found about 20kg of suspected ketamine, with an estimated market value of about $7 million, in his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.
In the third case, a 35-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Brussels, Belgium, today (January 30). During Customs clearance, Customs officers found about 21kg of suspected ketamine, with an estimated market value of about $7 million, in his check-in suitcase. Three sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette were also found inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.
The arrested men in the first two cases has each been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, while the arrested man in the third case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of possession of dutiable goods and one count of failing to declare to a member of the Customs and Excise Service. All cases will be brought up at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (January 31).
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.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
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 detects three drug trafficking cases involving passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases involving passengers at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
