A teacher who arrived from Germany and a teenager on a flight from Malaysia have been arrested at Hong Kong airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs worth more than HK$23 million (US$3 million) into the city in two separate cases.
The Customs and Excise Department revealed on Sunday that the two suspects had been arrested the previous day.
In the first case, customs officers stopped a 58-year-old female passenger who had arrived from Frankfurt for inspection.
Officers discovered about 47kg (103lbs) of suspected ketamine hidden in her checked luggage, with an estimated market value of HK$21 million.
The woman claimed to be a teacher. Customs said the drugs were hidden among everyday items and foodstuffs inside her checked luggage in an attempt to avoid detection.
Investigations into the suspect were continuing.
The second case involved an 18-year-old male passenger who flew into Hong Kong International Airport from Kuala Lumpur.
During a routine inspection, customs officers found around 4kg of suspected “Ice”, or methamphetamine, valued at about HK$2.2 million, concealed in his carry-on bag.
The drugs were mixed with various snacks in his bag in a bid to mask the alleged smuggling attempt, customs said.
He was later charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug and was expected to appear in West Kowloon Court on Monday. The suspect, a construction worker, was allegedly paid to smuggle the drugs. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
