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Hong Kong customs officers find nearly US$32 million worth of cocaine packed in jet engine shipped from South America

  • Engine was inside container that arrived from Ecuador but was never claimed
  • Officers found 217kg of the drug hidden inside, in the largest such seizure so far this year

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A customs officer stands guard in front of the cocaine worth HK$246 million (US$31.7 million) hidden in an aircraft engine. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong customs found cocaine worth HK$246 million (US$31.7 million) hidden in an aircraft engine shipped from South America, in its biggest seizure of the drug so far this year.

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The engine was inside a shipping container that arrived from Ecuador in March, but the haul was only discovered last week after it was opened for inspection at Hong Kong International Airport. Officers found 217kg of cocaine hidden inside.

Customs officers were suspicious as jet engines were rarely shipped to Hong Kong from South America and the consignee never collected the cargo.

An X-ray of the engine revealed an unusual shape and personnel from the Government Flying Service (GFS) were called in to inspect the machine at the Kwai Chung cargo examination compound last Tuesday.

Benson Lee, head of Ports and Maritime Command, said the engine the drugs were found in was old and unserviceable. Photo: Nora Tam
Benson Lee, head of Ports and Maritime Command, said the engine the drugs were found in was old and unserviceable. Photo: Nora Tam
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“It is an old and unserviceable engine,” said Benson Lee Tak-shun, head of Ports and Maritime Command.

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