HONG KONG: Customs officials seized about 1.6 kilos of suspected cocaine – worth an estimated HKD1.83 million on the streets – from a man arriving at Hong Kong International Airport from Johannesburg, via Dubai.
The man, aged 42, was stopped by customs officers to have his baggage examined. After they emptied the suitcase, they found that it was still “abnormally heavy”, and a subsequent X-ray scan revealed the drugs inside a false compartment.
“It is believed that drug traffickers tried to use this concealment method to evade customs detection,” said a government press release.
The arrestee, who claims to be unemployed, will appear at Tsuen Wan Magistrates’ Courts today.
Drug trafficking can be punished by life in prison and a fine of HKD5 million.
