Enter the dragon fruit: liquid cocaine worth HK$15 million found injected into 98 fruits arriving at Hong Kong airport from Colombia
Customs officers spent more than four hours opening 160 boxes and checking nearly 2,000 fruits
Liquid cocaine with an estimated street value of HK$15.7 million was found concealed in the hollow centres of 98 dragon fruits arriving at the airport from South America, customs officers revealed on Wednesday.
It was the first time such a method of drug concealment had been discovered in Hong Kong in about two decades, the Post was told.
The haul came after a team of customs officers at Hong Kong International Airport spent more than four hours opening 160 boxes and checking nearly 2,000 dragon fruits – also known as pitayas – one by one on Tuesday, two days after the air freight arrived from Colombia via Britain.
Describing the concealment method as “sophisticated” and “innovative”, a source said: “Part of the fruit layer was peeled off and pulp was removed before liquid cocaine was injected into the hollow centre and the layer glued back on.
“From appearance, it was hard to distinguish the ones concealing illegal drugs. Officers had to inspect them one by one.”
He said the 98 dragon fruits containing the drug were spread out over 50 boxes among other fruits that had not been tampered with.