Hong Kong Customs on September 7 detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 900 grammes of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $700,000.
      
     A 48-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on September 5 while his delayed check-in travel bag arrived in Hong Kong on September 7. During baggage examination, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed inside the false compartments of the bag. The male passenger was subsequently arrested when retrieving his delayed travel bag at the airport on September 7.
      
     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/Saturday, September 9, 2023
Issued at HKT 11:35

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