Hong Kong Customs detects dangerous drugs internal concealment case involving passenger at airport (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs detected a dangerous drugs case involving internal concealment at Hong Kong International Airport on July 28, and seized about 1.4 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $1.1 million.

     A 29-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Doha, Qatar, on that day. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found that she had foreign objects concealed inside her body cavity. Subsequently, the woman was arrested and brought to a hospital for examination. Upon examination, a doctor also confirmed there were foreign objects inside the woman’s body cavity.

     As at noon today (July 30), the arrested person had discharged 108 pellets of suspected cocaine weighing about 1.4kg in total.

     A holding charge with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug has been laid against the arrested woman. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (July 31).

     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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).