Hong Kong Customs seized about 88 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $44 million at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (October 5). One man was arrested.
Through risk assessment, Customs yesterday inspected an air consignment consisting eight boxes, declared as carrying gifts and souvenirs and arriving in Hong Kong from Kyrgyz Republic, at the airport.
Upon inspection, Customs officers detected suspicious X-ray images on the consignment and found that the wooden protective frames of the batch of goods had been altered. With detailed examination, it was uncovered that there were false compartments in the inner layers of the overlapping positions of the wooden slates and a total of about 88kg of suspected methamphetamine was concealed inside.
After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a 54-year-old man who was suspected to be connected with the case in the airport. The investigation is 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.
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).
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