Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cocaine (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs seized about 1 170 grams of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $1.3 million from a male passenger arriving at Hong Kong International Airport on March 1.

     A 24-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on that day. He was found to be suspicious upon customs clearance and was suspected to have dangerous drugs concealed inside his body cavities. He was escorted to hospital for examination and later discharged the batch of suspected cocaine. He was then arrested.

     The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (March 4).

     Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment strategy to select outbound, inbound and transit passengers for clearance to intercept different kinds of 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).