Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected methamphetamine at airport (with photo)
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Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 24) seized about 760 grams of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $430,000 and arrested an incoming male at Hong Kong International Airport.
The 38-year-old man arrived in Hong Kong from Entebbe, Uganda via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected methamphetamine concealed inside the underpants he was wearing. The man was then arrested.
The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (January 26).
During the Lunar New Year holidays, Customs believes that the local demand for drugs will increase. The department will therefore further step up enforcement action to fiercely combat different kinds of dangerous drug trafficking activities during the long holidays.
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).