A 42-year-old Kenyan has been arrested by the Hong Kong Customs officers while trying to smuggle Ksh154,500,000 worth of drugs.
According to a report issued by the customs officers, the 42-year-old man was arrested on Sunday June 9, at the Hong Kong International Airport.
Additionally, the report stated that the passenger was travelling from Kenya through Doha, Qatar when 1.3 kilograms of suspected cocaine was discovered hidden in his luggage.
“Hong Kong Customs on June 9 detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 1.3 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $1.2 million (Ksh154,500,000).
“A man was arrested. A 43-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Nairobi, Kenya, via Doha, Qatar, yesterday,” the statement read in part.
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How the Kenyan Man Was Nabbed by Officers
Moreover, Hong Kong Customs officers explained that while the passenger was going through customs clearance, they discovered a metal in a hidden compartment in his luggage.
On further investigation, the officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed inside.
Consequently, the man was arrested and charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug.
“During customs clearance, Customs officers found a metal part in his checked-in luggage, which contained the batch of suspected cocaine concealed inside. The man was subsequently arrested.
After an investigation, the arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. He will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts,” added the statement.
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Hong Kong Customs Issue Warning
At the same time, the customs officers issued a warning to passengers from passengers from high-risk regions, indicating that they will intensify their search to combat drug trafficking.
Additionally, the statement warned that those convicted risk life imprisonment and a fine of Ksh640 million.
“Following the increasing number of visitors to Hong Kong, Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment,” noted the statement.
Kenya was put on the list of hotspots for drug transit and money laundering by American authorities, citing corruption and insufficient controls.
The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Kenya’s main airport, receives over 7 million passengers in a year and about Ksh300,000 tonnes of cargo, with other 40 airlines that connect to major destinations across the globe
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