$125m worth of ketamine seized

September 2, 2021

Customs today announced that it had seized about 220kg of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of around $125 million, marking its largest seaborne ketamine trafficking case since May 2012.

 

Through risk assessment and intelligence exchanges, customs officers inspected a sea freight consignment declared as carrying cotton yarn that arrived from Pakistan on July 30. The batch of suspected ketamine was found hidden inside 162 cotton yarn spools mix-loaded with other cotton yarn spools. A 35-year-old female suspect was arrested on August 31.

 

Customs Drug Investigation Bureau (Drug Investigation) Acting Group Head Philip Chan told a press conference that the woman is the responsible person of a legitimate logistics company in the city.

 

“According to our preliminary investigation, we found that this logistics company acted as an agent for the real consignee in Hong Kong.

 

“According to our findings, this logistics company, up to this moment, has not received any requests from the consignee to collect this consignment. So we believe that the syndicate behind (the ketamine trafficking case) is still buying time to find the real buyer - maybe in Hong Kong or maybe overseas.

 

“After they confirm the buyer, they will give instructions to this logistics company to collect the consignment and send it to the buyer.”

 

Mr Chan added that investigations are underway into whether the drugs were destined for the local or overseas market.

 

Customs reminded the public not to participate in drug trafficking for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. Citizens are also advised against carrying unknown items for others or releasing their personal data or home address for receiving parcels or goods.

 

The maximum penalty for dangerous drug trafficking is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

 

Report suspected drug trafficking activities to the customs hotline at 2545 6182 or by email.

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