CUSTOMS officers in Hong Kong have confiscated more than HKD800 million (US$102 million) worth of illegal drugs at Hong Kong International Airport in the first four months of the year, up 88 per cent over the same period in 2022.
Figures obtained by the South China Morning Post revealed that 1.47 tonnes of narcotics with an estimated street value of HKD804 million were discovered in 290 shipments intercepted by customs officers at the airport's cargo terminal between January and April.
Lee Ka Ming, the head of customs' drug investigation bureau, said that as travel returned to normal following the end of pandemic restrictions, the number of visitors had increased, creating more opportunities for traffickers.
Last week, the authorities seized more than HKD10 million worth of cocaine and arrested five people arriving from Brazil.
In the first four months of last year, Hong Kong customs found 864kg of illegal drugs worth HKD427 million concealed in 197 shipments. For all of 2022, customs seized 2.58 tonnes of narcotics worth HKD1.2 billion in 821 cases arising at the airport.
SeaNews Turkey
Figures obtained by the South China Morning Post revealed that 1.47 tonnes of narcotics with an estimated street value of HKD804 million were discovered in 290 shipments intercepted by customs officers at the airport's cargo terminal between January and April.
Lee Ka Ming, the head of customs' drug investigation bureau, said that as travel returned to normal following the end of pandemic restrictions, the number of visitors had increased, creating more opportunities for traffickers.
Last week, the authorities seized more than HKD10 million worth of cocaine and arrested five people arriving from Brazil.
In the first four months of last year, Hong Kong customs found 864kg of illegal drugs worth HKD427 million concealed in 197 shipments. For all of 2022, customs seized 2.58 tonnes of narcotics worth HKD1.2 billion in 821 cases arising at the airport.
SeaNews Turkey
