Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cocaine at airport (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 1) seized about 4.4 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $5.4 million at Hong Kong International Airport.
      
     A 21-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Munich, Germany, via Doha, Qatar, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found three stuffed toys in his carry-on suitcase, in which 188 pellets of suspected cocaine weighing about 4.4kg in total were concealed. The man was subsequently arrested.
      
     The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (November 3).
      
     Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily. 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).