Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected dangerous drugs worth about $24 million in anti-narcotics operations (with photos)

     Hong Kong Customs conducted a series of anti-narcotics operations from September 18 to 20 and detected two dangerous drugs trafficking cases. Suspected dangerous drugs worth about $24 million in total were seized at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and in various districts across the territory. The seizures include about 41 kilograms of suspected ketamine, about 1kg of suspected cocaine, about 1kg of suspected heroin, about 100 grams of suspected crack cocaine and a small quantity of suspected herbal cannabis. Four men, aged between 19 and 41, were arrested during the operations.

     In the first case, Customs officers on September 18 inspected an express parcel posted from Germany, which was declared as a storage rack, at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. About 32kg of suspected ketamine were found concealed inside the parcel. After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation in Yau Tong and To Kwa Wan yesterday (September 19) and arrested three men, aged 25 to 41, suspected to be connected with the case. After investigation, Customs officers intercepted another three parcels from Denmark declared as carrying bluetooth speakers today (September 20) in downtown and found a total of about 9kg of suspected ketamine therein.

     In the second case, Customs officers intercepted a suspicious man in Lam Tin last night and seized about 1kg of suspected cocaine inside a paper bag carried by him. The man aged 19 was subsequently arrested. Further seizures were made at a nearby residential premises, including about 1kg of suspected heroin, about 100 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 45g of suspected ketamine and a small quantity of suspected herbal cannabis.

     Investigations of the above-mentioned two cases are ongoing.

     Customs will continue to enhance enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary returns. 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, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

     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).