​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 10) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport. About 12 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $5.7 million was seized.
A 29-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Prague, the Czech Republic, via Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, yesterday. During Customs clearance, the batch of suspected ketamine was found camouflaged as de-icing salt inside his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.
The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on January 13.
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 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Follow this news feed: East Asia