During an anti-narcotics operation, Hong Kong Customs foiled the attempts of three drug traffickers who were suspected to have swallowed drugs internally on arrival at the airport yesterday (June 6).
Customs yesterday evening arrested three foreign male passengers arriving on the same flight from Ethiopia at the airport on suspicion of internal concealment of drugs. Upon medical check-up at the hospital, they were confirmed to have foreign objects concealed in their body cavities. The foreign objects were later tested and confirmed to be heroin. The arrestees will be charged with "trafficking in a dangerous drug". Follow-up investigation is continuing.
Since January this year, Hong Kong Customs has detected 33 heroin trafficking cases with internal concealment while 16 similar cases were detected in the same period last year.
Hong Kong Customs will step up enforcement efforts in the anti-narcotics front to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking is a serious offence. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
Ends/Friday, June 7 2013