Foreigner held in Hong Kong with 2.2kg suspected cocaine

A foreigner was apprehended at Hong Kong International Airport after customs officials discovered 2.2kg of suspected cocaine in his cabin luggage. This marks the second arrest related to suspected drug smuggling from Penang to Hong Kong, following a previous case involving a 25-year-old foreigner arrested last Thursday. The Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department revealed that the estimated market value of the suspected cocaine was HK$1.3 million (RM700,000).

The 39-year-old suspect, who had just arrived in Hong Kong from Penang, was detained during a routine customs inspection at the airport. Upon examination of his cabin baggage, a significant quantity of suspected cocaine was found, leading to his arrest. He was subsequently charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug, and the case is scheduled to be heard by the West Kowloon magistrate's court the following day.

Hong Kong Customs has pledged to intensify efforts to combat drug trafficking through enhanced information sharing, intelligence gathering, and risk-based enforcement measures, which include screening passengers arriving from high-risk areas. Under the Hong Kong Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, individuals found guilty of drug trafficking face a maximum fine of HK$5 million and potentially life imprisonment.