Hong Kong customs hunting runaway suspect after arresting six over HK$300 million cocaine bust
- Six arrested over drug-trafficking, money-laundering allegations but seventh suspect gets away, triggering manhunt
- Customs says it believes it has smashed transnational crime syndicate behind trafficking of HK$500 million worth of drugs in total from this case and another one last year
Hong Kong customs officials are hunting a 42-year-old suspected drug trafficker who escaped their clutches during the arrest of six others in connection with the seizure of about HK$300 million (US$38.4 million) worth of cocaine.
The suspects were also accused of money-laundering offences involving about HK$130 million, the Customs and Excise Department revealed on Friday.
About 260kg of suspected cocaine was found on October 19 in a refrigerated container storing frozen chicken legs at the Tsing Yi Customs Cargo Examination Compound following the shipment’s arrival from Brazil.
Six Hongkongers – three men and three women, aged 30 to 64 – were arrested between October 24 and Thursday in connection with the discovery. However, a seventh suspect, a 42-year-old local man surnamed Yeung, is still at large after fleeing an arrest operation.
Customs officials said they believed they had now smashed the transnational crime syndicate behind the trafficking of HK$500 million worth of drugs in total from this case and another one last year. The combined weight of the confiscated drugs was 500kg.
Lee Kam-wing, head of customs’ drug investigation bureau, suggested the most recent trafficking operation was amateurish.
“Although putting the drugs in a secret compartment seems perfect, this strategy is a low-end one,” he added. “This is because X-rays can easily detect the drug.”
He added it was the first time that customs had discovered drugs in the insulation material of a refrigerated container.
