Hong Kong customs seizes HK$640 million worth of crystal meth camouflaged as snail shells from Mexico, arrests 4
- Four people arrested in connection with 1.1 tonnes of suspected crystal meth found in container
- Haul is biggest seizure of its kind by customs department so far
Hong Kong customs officers have made their biggest seizure of suspected crystal meth in solid form yet, discovering a haul worth HK$640 million (US$81.8 million) in a shipment of snail shells from Mexico.
Superintendent Ip Kwok-leung, head of customs’ drug investigation group, on Monday said four people had been arrested in connection with the discovery of 1.1 tonnes of suspected methamphetamine, also known as Ice.
The haul, discovered on October 26, took the total amount of illegal drugs seized by customs in the first 10 months of the year to about 7.5 tonnes, a 41 per cent jump compared with the same period in 2022, he added.
Ip said the increase showed “the effectiveness of enforcement strategies as well as international cooperation with mainland China and overseas law enforcement agencies”.
The container, declared as having more than 600 bags stuffed with shells, was selected for inspection after arriving from Mexico last month, according to the Customs and Excise Department.