More than 1 1/2 tonnes of cocaine was confiscated in Hong Kong over the past two years, prompting customs officials to take the unprecedented step of establishing intelligence links with South America to combat the drug trade.
That figure, which includes three large hauls totalling 1.2 tonnes, is three times the entire amount seized by law enforcement officials in Hong Kong between 2004 and 2009.
The sharp increase is due to traffickers' efforts to use Hong Kong as a transshipment centre to other countries, officials said.
The three large consignments had been sent from the so-called 'Silver Triangle' of Peru, Bolivia and Colombia, the world's leading cocaine producing area, the drug busters said.
John Lee Cheung-wing, head of the Customs Drug Investigation Bureau, said the cocaine seizures were a great cause of concern for the agency, and that efforts were being made to stop the traffic.
Late last month, Hong Kong narcotics officials travelled to Chile to boost co-operation with counterparts there. Lee described the visit by the Customs & Excise Department team as 'useful and successful'.
'We were able to make direct contact with our Chilean counterparts,' Lee said. 'This will help us obtain timely and up-to-date intelligence on smuggling trends and trafficking routes, so that we can take appropriate action.' Lee said the bureau would soon establish direct contacts with other South American countries to fight drug trafficking.