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Hong Kong Customs made a record seizure of 307 kilogrammes of ketamine and 10 kilogrammes of methamphetamine ("ice"), with an estimated street value of $41.3 million, at the Hong Kong International Airport on November 22.
Based on risk assessment, Customs officers of the Airport Command selected a cargo shipment from Singapore for examination. The shipment was declared to be containing 40 audio speakers.
The officers, with the assistance of an X-ray system, found six to eight packets of dangerous drugs concealed inside each of the 40 speakers. A total of 307 kilogrammes of ketamine and 10 kilogrammes of methamphetamine ("ice") were uncovered.
The Customs Drug Investigation Bureau conducted an international investigation with their overseas counterparts. With the full co-operation of and assistance from the Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore, the officers discovered that the cargo shipment had been first sent from India. Customs in India also gave their full support. Investigation is continuing.
Briefing the media today (December 4), the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Intelligence and Investigation), Mr Tam Yiu-keung, said that drug traffickers, might attempt to take advantage of Hong Kongˇ¦s well-established transportation network to smuggle dangerous drugs.
ˇ§However, our successful detection of this case bears testimony to Hong Kong Customsˇ¦ full commitment to deterring transnational drug-trafficking activities,ˇ¨ Mr Tam said.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking is a serious offence. Upon conviction, an offender will face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
Ends/Thursday, December 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:07
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