HONG KONG: A man was arrested at the Hong Kong airport on Saturday after customs found 2.1 kilos of suspected cocaine disguised as sweets in his carry-on luggage.
The man, who is 29 and claimed to be unemployed, was en route to Hanoi, Vietnam from Johannesburg, South Africa via Dubai, UAE, according to a government statement here the other day.
Customs officials intercepted him while patrolling the transit area at the airport, and found six candy boxes inside a plastic bag he was carrying.
After an “in-depth examination”, officers found 110 pellets of suspected cocaine wrapped in sweet wrappers inside the boxes, totalling 2.1 kilos with an estimated street worth of HKD2.3 million. These treats are definitely out of most (but not all) kids’ pocket-money budget.
The man was charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug and is scheduled to appear at Tsuen Wan Magistrates’ Courts today.
The maximum penalty for trafficking in a dangerous drug is life imprisonment and a fine of HKD5 million.
