Hong Kong customs seizes nearly HK$24 million worth of cocaine from two flight crew members in largest haul of its kind over past decade
- Authorities target drug trafficking through airport channels in major operation still under way
Hong Kong customs has seized nearly HK$24 million (US$3.06 million) worth of cocaine from two flight crew members, the largest haul of its kind in the past decade.
The Customs and Excise Department mounted a special operation last weekend at the airport to combat cross-boundary drug trafficking by passengers and airline staff.
Officers uncovered about 12kg of suspected cocaine concealed inside two black plastic bags, and after a follow-up investigation, a woman, 39, was arrested at a hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui on Monday.
Officers also seized about 6.3kg of suspected cocaine inside a black plastic bag on Tuesday, and arrested a man, 35.
Authorities believed the drugs came from Africa. The operation, code-named “Bullseye”, is still under way.
The pair, whom officers only described as “flight crew members”, were later charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, with the cases to be heard in court on Thursday.
Under the city’s Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, a conviction of trafficking in a dangerous drug could bring a maximum penalty of HK$5 million or life imprisonment.
The department said it would continue to combat the inflow of drugs through passenger, staff and cargo channels at the airport by conducting risk profiling and intelligence analysis.