Hong Kong customs seizes HK$140 million worth of cocaine hidden in container from Suriname, arrests 2
- Officers found 104 bricks of suspected cocaine in a container from South America that was declared to be carrying frozen meat
- Two men, aged 28 and 33, were arrested on Monday; one allegedly helped with the logistics of shipping the container to Hong Kong, the other is said to be the consignee
Hong Kong customs has arrested two men after confiscating HK$140 million (US$18 million) worth of cocaine hidden in a container that arrived from Suriname.
The seaborne container, declared to be carrying frozen meat, arrived from South America at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound on January 10, the Customs and Excise Department revealed on Tuesday.
Acting on intelligence received from an overseas law enforcement agency, customs officers examined the container and discovered 104 bricks of suspected cocaine concealed inside the refrigerator compartment of the container. Each brick weighed 1.3kg.
Two men, aged 28 and 33, were arrested in Sham Shui Po and Tsuen Wan on Monday in connection with the case.
A law enforcement source said the 28-year-old allegedly helped with the logistics of shipping the container to Hong Kong, while the 33-year-old was said to be the consignee.
“Frozen meat from Suriname is very uncommon. The country usually exports timber,” the insider said, adding that the two men were detained for questioning.
In Hong Kong, trafficking in a dangerous drug is punishable by life in prison and a HK$5 million fine.
In November, customs officers seized HK$147 million worth of cocaine hidden in an electric transformer that arrived by air from Guatemala – the largest seizure of the drug at Hong Kong International Airport in two decades.
