Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 24) detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 28 kilograms of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $28 million.

     A 41-year-old male passenger and a 34-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected heroin concealed inside the interlinings of a total of 74 pieces of nylon mats in their checked-in luggage. Both passengers were subsequently arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has been increasing steadily. 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, August 25, 2023
Issued at HKT 18:08

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