KUALA LUMPUR: Two men from Malaysia were arrested on Wednesday night in Hong Kong after almost 5kg of suspected heroin was found strapped to their waists and hidden in their shoes.
It follows the arrest of two other tourists from Malaysia, and the seizure of 1.4kg of suspected heroin, at Hong Kong International Airport on March 11.
In the latest case, the two men, both aged 21, were passengers in a seven-seater car driven by a Hong Kong man when it arrived in the city from mainland China via Shenzhen Bay Control Point on Wednesday night.
Initial investigation found the men had travelled by plane to Guangzhou on Tuesday and gone to Shenzhen on the same day. A customs source suspected the smugglers took the circuitous route to the city following the earlier seizure at the airport, to avoid detection.
“Officers found packets of suspected heroin strapped to the passengers’ waists, thighs and lower legs and hidden in their sports shoes,” the source said.
A total of 20 packets carrying 4.8kg of suspected heroin were found on the two men. The haul had an estimated street value of HK$4.7 million (US$598,000).