​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 24) seized about 1.8 kilograms of suspected liquid cocaine with an estimated market value of about $3.2 million at Hong Kong International Airport. 

     A male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Amsterdam, the Netherlands yesterday. During Customs clearance, six personal hygiene product bottles containing the batch of suspected liquid cocaine were found inside his check-in suitcase. He was then arrested.

     The arrested man, aged 30, has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (December 26). 

     Amid the Christmas and New Year holidays, there is a possibility that drug syndicates would need to traffic in dangerous drugs urgently in order to meet keen demand during the long holidays. Customs will further step up enforcement action before the long holidays. The department will also continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting high-risk passengers for clearance and inspection to combat transnational drug trafficking activities effectively. 

     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).

Ends/Friday, December 25, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:25

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