Home Health Daring Airport Drug Bust: $2 Million Worth of Cocaine Seized from Passengers

Daring Airport Drug Bust: $2 Million Worth of Cocaine Seized from Passengers

Hong Kong Customs detected a dangerous drugs
photo courtesy of Customs Department

In a significant drug bust at Hong Kong International Airport, customs officers have apprehended two passengers arriving from Brazil via Dubai, uncovering approximately 2.2 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of $2 million. The incident occurred on June 6, marking a critical interception in the ongoing battle against international drug trafficking.

The two suspects, a 34-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, were detained upon arrival after customs officers noted their suspicious behavior. Acting on their instincts, the officers escorted the pair to a hospital for further examination, suspecting internal concealment of drugs.

During the hospital stay, the male passenger was found to be expelling pellets of suspected cocaine in the washroom, leading to his immediate arrest. Subsequent medical examination revealed that the woman did not have any foreign objects inside her body cavities. However, due to her connection with the male suspect, she was also arrested. By June 8, the man had excreted a total of 201 pellets, collectively weighing about 2.2 kilograms.

The suspects have now been formally charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and are scheduled to appear at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on June 10.

This operation underscores the heightened vigilance of Hong Kong Customs amidst the steady increase in visitor numbers following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with Mainland China and other regions. Customs authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to employing a risk assessment approach, targeting passengers from high-risk regions to effectively combat transnational drug trafficking.

Under Hong Kong’s Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking is a grave offense, carrying a maximum penalty of a $5 million fine and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form