HONG KONG customs officers have seized HKD44 million (US$5.7 million) of Ice hidden in wooden pallets carrying painted ceramics from Kyrgyzstan, the first haul from the central Asian country.
The seizure was also the largest for the drug entering the city by air cargo this year, writes Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.
Ivan Chow Wing-cheong, senior investigator of customs' drug investigation bureau, said the shipment caught officers' attention as the country was not known for exporting such goods.
'Traffickers attempted to divert customs attention by delivering a batch of seemingly high-value ceramic pieces. However, painted ceramics from Kyrgyzstan, a country not known for exporting art goods, are rare and it aroused our suspicions,' he said.
After initial screening at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), anomalies were detected in the X-ray images of eight wooden pallets in the shipment.
Officers discovered small hidden compartments in the joints of the pallets.
Inside the 200 hollowed-out spaces were plastic bags containing Ice, or methamphetamine, totalling 88kg.
A 54-year-old man identified as a driver was later that day arrested at the airport. He was suspected to have been tasked with receiving the goods for further handling.
The case is ongoing to determine the intended destination of the drugs, including whether they were meant for local distribution.
Mr Chow said further arrests were possible.
SeaNews Turkey
The seizure was also the largest for the drug entering the city by air cargo this year, writes Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.
Ivan Chow Wing-cheong, senior investigator of customs' drug investigation bureau, said the shipment caught officers' attention as the country was not known for exporting such goods.
'Traffickers attempted to divert customs attention by delivering a batch of seemingly high-value ceramic pieces. However, painted ceramics from Kyrgyzstan, a country not known for exporting art goods, are rare and it aroused our suspicions,' he said.
After initial screening at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), anomalies were detected in the X-ray images of eight wooden pallets in the shipment.
Officers discovered small hidden compartments in the joints of the pallets.
Inside the 200 hollowed-out spaces were plastic bags containing Ice, or methamphetamine, totalling 88kg.
A 54-year-old man identified as a driver was later that day arrested at the airport. He was suspected to have been tasked with receiving the goods for further handling.
The case is ongoing to determine the intended destination of the drugs, including whether they were meant for local distribution.
Mr Chow said further arrests were possible.
SeaNews Turkey
