*****************************************************
Hong Kong Customs officers on Tuesday (July 24) made a record seizure of 160 kilogrammes of high-grade cocaine with street value of $110 million.
The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Richard Yuen Ming-fai, said today (July 27) this successful case demonstrated the Hong Kong Customs' determination and ability to detect and prevent smuggling of narcotics and illicit substances through the port. "We will continue to use effective risk assessment, analysis of intelligence, and advanced drug-detecting equipment and vigilant narcotics detector dogs to assist our work."
He commended staff for their alertness and professionalism in cracking the case.
Briefing the media, the Head of Customs Drug Investigation Bureau, Mr Ben Leung, said drug traffickers may attempt to take advantage of Hong Kong's well-established transportation network to smuggle dangerous drugs. "However, our unremitting law enforcement will continue to deter transnational drug trafficking activities and send a clear message to drug traffickers that they will suffer great loss in contravening law," he said.
Officers of Customs Drug Investigation Bureau and the Ports and Maritime Command this month mounted a joint operation codenamed "Operation Hippo", targeting cargoes from high-risk sources.
They conducted customs clearance on the cargoes of a container vessel arriving from Panama. After risk assessment, customs officers selected two containers for examination. The contains were said to contain "purified water".
On July 24, officers opened the two containers for examination after X-ray scanning at Kwai Chung Customs House. With the assistance of X-ray and drug detector dogs, officers seized 160 kilogrammes of high-grade cocaine hidden inside 80 wooden pallets on which bottles of purified water were placed.
Seven Hong Kong people - five men and two women- aged between 23 and 51, were arrested.
Customs believed that the drugs seized were intended for transshipment to other places.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking is a serious offence, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
Ends/Friday, July 27, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:26
NNNN