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Hong Kong Customs seized about 17 kilograms of suspected derivatives of cathinone (commonly called "bath salt") at Man Kam To Control Point on June 30. The market value of the drugs was estimated at $3.4 million. A man was arrested.
At noon that day, Customs Officers intercepted an inbound cross-boundary lorry for examination at Man Kam To Control Point and found the suspected drugs contained in 12 express postal parcels on the vehicle. The estimated market value was about $3.4 million. Upon follow-up investigation, Customs Officers further seized about 0.3kg of suspected derivatives of cathinone and about 1.2kg of suspected ketamine in four express postal parcels from a logistics company in Kowloon Bay. The market value of the drugs was about $0.2 million. The seized postal parcels were all destined for overseas places.
The lorry driver, aged 43, was arrested. He was put on police bail pending follow-up investigation. The case is still under investigation.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking is a serious offence. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
Ends/Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:19
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