Two airport drug cases net HK$11 million haul
On.cc · 5 SOURCESabout 18 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong Customs said it uncovered two separate drug trafficking cases involving arriving air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport on Sunday, arresting a 48-year-old Japanese man and a 34-year-old British man. Across the two cases, officers seized about 7.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 16 kilograms of suspected ketamine, 52 duty-not-paid cigarettes, one suspected alternative smoking product and four boxes of suspected Part 1 poisons, with a total estimated market value of about HK$11 million. The Japanese passenger had arrived from Bangkok, while the British passenger had arrived from London. Both men have been charged and are scheduled to appear at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on Tuesday, September 8.
Key Points
- In the first case, customs officers stopped a 48-year-old Japanese male passenger after he arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok on Sunday.
- Officers found about 7.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine in his checked baggage and 52 duty-not-paid cigarettes in his carry-on luggage.
- He was charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug, possession of dutiable goods and failing to declare dutiable goods to customs officers.
- In the second case, a 34-year-old British male passenger arrived from London and was found carrying about 16 kilograms of suspected ketamine.
- Customs said his carry-on luggage also contained one suspected alternative smoking product and four boxes of suspected Part 1 poisons.
Why It Matters
The cases are moving quickly into open court, giving the public an early view of how prosecutors are handling allegations involving both dangerous drugs and other regulated goods brought in by air passengers. For Hong Kong travellers, the arrests also underline that airport customs checks can lead to charges not only over narcotics in checked baggage but also over undeclared cigarettes, alternative smoking products and controlled poisons in cabin bags.