Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cocaine worth about $2.2 million at airport (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 30) seized about 2 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $2.2 million at Hong Kong International Airport.
           
     A 55-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Guadeloupe via Paris, France, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed inside the interlinings of two book covers and a false compartment of a rucksack in his checked-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     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/).