Ringleaders of billion-dollar transpacific cocaine gang held in mainland China
Two new arrests bring number of Hongkongers detained in connection with biggest cocaine haul since the establishment of the people’s republic to nine
Two Hongkongers thought to be the leaders of a transpacific drug trafficking ring linked to the biggest cocaine seizure in recent Chinese history were sent back to the mainland after Interpol helped catch them overseas, authorities said on Tuesday.
A total of nine city residents were arrested in the eight months to March for transporting 1.3 tonnes of cocaine – worth more than 1 billion yuan (HK$1.2 billion) – from South America to Shanwei, a coastal city in southern in Guangdong province, by sea. The gang, allegedly led by two Hongkongers surnamed Chan and Cheng, shifted the haul by road to other parts of the province for storage.
Police said it was the largest cocaine seizure since the establishment of the people’s republic, in 1949.
The Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department said officers swooped on the suspects in two separate operations, one last August and one in February, after learning the syndicate would be involved in a major handover.
“After the ring was cracked in late February, the masterminds, Chan and Cheng, fled and hid overseas,” the department said in a statement, adding that it then asked Interpol for help.
“The pair was captured separately abroad on March 7 and March 22 and sent back to the country. We have cracked the syndicate and arrested all members involved.”