HONG KONG: Nearly HK$10 million-worth of illegal drugs have been seized in a Lunar New Year crackdown by Hong Kong customs officials.
Cocaine, cannabis and ketamine were among the narcotics discovered between February 5 and February 7 as more than 850,000 people poured into the city for the Lunar New Year holiday.
Some HK$ 9.4 million-worth of drugs were seized in four cases. Among the haul of suspected drugs was 8 kilograms of cocaine, 5.8 kilograms of cannabis resin and 2 kilograms of ketamine.
Four people were charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs.
In the first case on February 5, a 36-year-old businesswoman arriving from Dubai was stopped at Hong Kong International Airport where customs officers found two biscuit cans and four tea cans inside her carry-on suitcase.
On closer scrutiny, she was found to be carrying 141 pellets of suspected cocaine weighing 2.7kg.
A day later, a 27-year-old tailor who arrived from India was found carrying 5.8kg of suspected cannabis resin hidden among packs of food and tubes of toothpaste.
A female merchant, 28, yesterday arrived from Cebu concealing 5.3kg of cocaine inside her shoes, handbags and folders.
At Lok Ma Chau checkpoint, a 30 year-old decorator was searched with 2kg of ketamine found.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
The drugs haul came after customs officials revealed they seized 20 per cent more illicit drugs last year than in the previous year.
Ketamine and cocaine busts soared accordingly. Nearly 280 kg of ketamine and 230 kg of cocaine were seized last year – a rise of around 120 per cent compared to 2014.
Last week, assistant commissioner for intelligence and investigation Louise Ho Pui-shan said it was unavoidable for Hong Kong to be linked to drug trafficking as the city was an international logistics hub.
