Hong Kong Customs today (March 16) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 3.6 kilograms of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $2.2 million, as well as a suspected alternative smoking product.
A female passenger, aged 21, and a male passenger, aged 19, arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected heroin inside the female passenger's check-in suitcase and the suspected alternative smoking product from her carry-on bag. Both were subsequently arrested.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. 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.
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.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, a person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
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