Customs Seizes HK$1.8 Million Cocaine at Airport
On.cc · 5 SOURCESabout 14 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong Customs said it uncovered a drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport on 13 November, seizing about 3 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of about HK$1.8 million. The arrested traveller was a 57-year-old Indonesian man who had arrived in Hong Kong after flying from Bogota, Colombia, via Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Doha, Qatar. Officers found the suspected cocaine concealed in a hidden compartment of his checked suitcase during customs clearance. The man was arrested at the airport and the case is still under investigation.
Key Points
- Customs said the seizure was made at Hong Kong International Airport on 13 November during an operation targeting a passenger trafficking case.
- Officers found about 3 kilograms of suspected cocaine hidden inside a compartment built into the traveller's checked luggage.
- The drugs were estimated to have a market value of about HK$1.8 million, according to Customs and multiple local media reports.
- The arrested passenger was identified as a 57-year-old Indonesian man arriving from Bogota via Sao Paulo and Doha.
- Customs warned the public not to transport controlled items for others, noting drug trafficking can carry a HK$5 million fine and life imprisonment upon conviction
Why It Matters
The case underlines the continued use of long-haul transit routes and concealed baggage compartments in attempts to bring narcotics into Hong Kong. For Hong Kong travellers and residents, Customs is using the case to reinforce a practical warning: do not carry goods for others or move items whose contents are uncertain.