By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-12-19 11:06:47 | Updated at 2024-12-19 14:06:01
3 hours ago
Hong Kong customs has seized HK$160 million (US$20.6 million) worth of narcotics, hidden by international drug syndicates in a variety of items including a porcelain Christmas snowman decoration and a baby car seat ahead of the year-end holiday season.
Various drugs weighing a total of 373kg (822lbs) were seized in 83 cases detected at the Hong Kong International Airport by the Customs and Excise Department between November 1 and Monday, leading to the arrest of 22 people.
In one case, a snowman decoration that arrived on November 16 from Germany raised suspicions during an X-ray scan.
Inside the snowman, officers found a powder-like substance later confirmed to be ketamine. The 8.5kg haul was estimated to have a street value of HK$4.12 million.
Separately, on December 7, a shipment from Germany labelled as containing a baby car seat was found to have a cracked component and a hidden compartment in the cushion.
Officers discovered 2.5kg of concealed Ecstasy pills, with an estimated market value of HK$420,000.
The greatest quantity by weight among the drugs seized was cannabis, with a total haul of 100kg – an increase of more than 60 per cent from the same period last year.
