Man arrested at Hong Kong International Airport with HK$3.3 million in cocaine concealed in secret compartment of suitcase
- The drug-trafficking arrest was the fourth at the airport in just four days and the 24th since the beginning of the year
- Law enforcement sources say smugglers have increasingly turned to couriers as tougher cargo terminal surveillance has made that route less appealing
A 48-year-old man flying into Hong Kong International Airport from Brussels was picked up with HK$3.3 million (US$425,000) worth of cocaine concealed in a secret compartment of his suitcase on Monday, becoming the fourth suspected drug trafficker arrested at the airport in as many days.
It followed the seizure of HK$15.2 million (US$2 million) worth of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine in separate cases on Friday and Saturday, involving three people who arrived from Ethiopia and South Africa.
The airport has seen at least 24 travellers arrested on drug-trafficking charges this year, with HK$48 million (US$6.2 million) worth of illegal narcotics seized, according to figures from the Customs and Excise Department.
The suspect arrested on Monday was intercepted while attempting to clear customs.
“A total of 3.1kg [6.8lb] of suspected cocaine was found in the false compartment of his check-in luggage. The haul has an estimated street value of HK$3.3 million,” a spokesman for the department said.
He was arrested on suspicion of trafficking in a dangerous drug, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a HK$5 million (US$643 million) fine.
On Saturday night, customs officers arrested a 35-year-old man arriving from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, via Manila. Cocaine worth HK$5.18 million was found in his suitcase.
On Friday, two women aged 62 and 66, were arrested with HK$10 million worth of methamphetamine and cocaine. The pair flew into the city from Johannesburg.
According to the department’s website, customs officers at the airport have seized 42kg of cocaine (93lbs), 12kg of crystal meth and 11kg (25lbs) of ketamine so far this year.
A law enforcement source said they have noticed a growing trend of couriers being used to smuggle drugs through the airport after enhanced inspection techniques put in place at the airport’s cargo terminal in late 2019 made that route less viable.
According to the latest figures, Hong Kong police and customs officers seized 2.58 tonnes of illegal drugs in 2019, up a whopping 85 per cent from 1.39 tonnes in 2018.
Seizures of cocaine rose by about 145 per cent to 1.3 tonnes, while those of crystal meth and ketamine were up 170 per cent to 798kg (1,759lbs). There was also a 26 per cent increase in heroin seizures, with 62kg (137lbs) of the drug netted.
