The drug cartel did not even let pet food go unnoticed, mixing drugs with them in an attempt to hide the truth and traffic the drugs to Hong Kong, but they were caught by the customs in the end!
Customs said today (14th) that Customs officers of the Airport Division cracked 3 drug cases at the Hong Kong International Airport and Tsing Yi earlier. During the operation, a total of 8.5 kilograms of suspected ketamine (commonly known as "K") was seized, with a market value of about 4.9 million yuan, and 3 people were arrested. Two local men, 18 and 19, are provisionally charged with two counts of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The cases will be brought up in West Kowloon and Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (15th).
The recipient of the dog food drug trafficking case was arrested by customs officers.
(Photo by Chen Aoqi)
Zou Yongchang, senior investigation director of the Airport Investigation Division of the Customs Narcotics Investigation Division, said that in the first case, the customs officers of the Airport Division passed a risk assessment on December 2 and inspected a batch of arrivals from the UK at the Hong Kong International Airport and reported that they were carrying pets. Air cargo for supplies.
Customs officers inspected the batch of goods with advanced X-ray equipment and found that the X-ray images of the two packs of dog food inside the goods were suspicious. After in-depth inspection, it was found that there were a total of 5 kg of suspected Ketamine has a market value of approximately HK$2.9 million.
After in-depth investigation, Customs found that the local consignee of the batch of goods was a local consignment company. Customs officers dispatched yesterday (13th) and arrested the 45-year-old truck driver who received the above-mentioned goods in San Po Kong. Another 18-year-old local man who claimed to be unemployed was arrested in Tsing Yi and is believed to be the final recipient of the consignment.
Customs officers then escorted the arrested 18-year-old man to a residential unit rented by him near Tsing Yi for search. A total of 500 grams of suspected ketamine with a market value of about HK$290,000 was seized in the unit.
In addition, customs officers also found a batch of drug packaging tools, including electronic scales, heat sealing machines, and a large number of packaging bags and airtight bags.
Customs believes that the batch of drugs has not flowed out of the market, and has successfully uncovered a drug distribution center active in the South of the New Territories.
The arrested 18-year-old man is provisionally charged with two counts of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up in West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (15th).
As for the arrested 45-year-old truck driver, he was released after investigation.
Drugs are mixed into the cat litter. The white crystals are drugs, and the translucent blue is cat yarn. The total amount of cat litter is 18 kg. Customs estimates that there are 3 kg of drugs inside, which will be handed over to the laboratory for testing.
(Photo by Chen Aoqi)
In addition, Customs officers of the Airport Division also conducted a risk assessment at the Hong Kong International Airport on December 6 to inspect a batch of air cargo arriving from Italy without cargo declaration information.
After X-ray inspection, it was found that about 1 kg of suspected ketamine was mixed in a bag of cat litter.
Later, the Customs Narcotics Investigation Division followed up the investigation and successfully identified another batch of air cargo that also arrived in Hong Kong from Italy and had no cargo declaration information.
After inspecting the batch of goods at the airport yesterday (13th), officers found 2 kg of suspected ketamine mixed in two other packs of cat litter, with a market value of about HK$1.16 million.
A total of about 3 kilograms of suspected ketamine was seized in the two cases, with an estimated market value of about HK$1.75 million.
After investigation, officers found that the two batches of goods were also sent to a local container shipping company, so Customs launched a monitoring delivery operation in Tuen Mun yesterday (13th) and arrested a 19-year-old local man who received the goods.
He reported that he was unemployed and was temporarily charged with two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs. The case will be brought up in Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (15th).
Zou Yongchang pointed out that in the three cases, the Customs noticed that the criminal group used the logistics company's consolidation service to try to mix drugs with a large number of normal commodities in an attempt to muddle through the customs.
He also mentioned that the shape of cat litter is similar to drugs. I believe that criminal gangs will take advantage of this and try to mix the two together, which will make customs inspection difficult.
However, due to the obvious difference in color, and under the irradiation of the X-ray machine, the drugs could not hide in the end.
He also said that whether the arrested person has a triad background and the motive for receiving the goods will be one of the directions of investigation.
As for the relevant drugs, they will be sent to a government laboratory for detailed testing later.
Customs reiterated that the personnel will continue to be professional and equipped with high-tech equipment to carry out customs clearance work in order to stop the flow of drugs into the Hong Kong market from the source.
As the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays are approaching, Customs will further strengthen law enforcement on the eve of the long holidays to crack down on drug trafficking activities.
Customs also appeals to the public to be more vigilant, not to engage in drug trafficking activities for financial gain, not to be hired or entrusted by anyone to transport controlled items into and out of Hong Kong, and not to rashly assist others in transporting the items without ascertaining the nature of the items.
In addition, members of the public should avoid handing over personal information or addresses to others for the purpose of receiving postal parcels or goods.
According to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in dangerous drugs is a serious offense and the maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public can report suspected drug trafficking activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182, or through the dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
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