KUALA LUMPUR: A Chinese national detained at Hong Kong International Airport, believed to be carrying 2kg of cocaine from Penang last week, was allegedly promised about RM1,200 to transport the drugs.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the drugs were found in the checked baggage of the 25-year-old man during a search by Hong Kong Customs authorities.
He said initial investigations found that the suspect obtained the drugs from an unidentified individual at a supermarket in Penang.
“We will liaise with the Hong Kong authorities to obtain further details on the case’s developments, including syndicate members involved in Malaysia,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Comm Hussein said the man’s passport was issued earlier this month and showed no other travel records.
“He had made several hotel bookings during his three-day stay in Malaysia.”
Hong Kong Customs had earlier said the man was detained at the airport last Thursday after he was detected carrying two kilogrammes of suspected cocaine in his baggage.
The suspect was subsequently charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, with the case scheduled for mention at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court.
Under Hong Kong’s Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a HK$5mil (RM2.7mil) fine upon conviction.
