​Hong Kong Customs today (April 12) detected a passenger drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 10 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $10 million. A man was arrested.
A 29-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Paris, France, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed in the inner layers of 10 down jackets inside his check-in baggage. 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 tomorrow (April 13).
Following the increasing number of visitors to Hong Kong, 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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
Ends/Friday, April 12, 2024
