Two arrested as Hong Kong and Australia join forces in HK$12.3m drug bust

A joint operation by Hong Kong customs and Australian authorities saw a 17-year-old teen and a 27-year-old man arrested, with officers seizing some HK$12.3 million worth of crystal meth and cocaine hidden in feng shui statues. 

Customs said on Wednesday that they were informed that Australian law enforcement agencies intercepted a suspicious air package last month declared to be carrying a stone statue with about 6 kg of suspected cocaine hidden inside. 

Customs then launched an investigation and, after communicating with the logistics company, swiftly targeted three more air packages that were to be sent to Australia. Some 12 kg of suspected crystal meth was further seized by officers in the packages. 

Last Sunday afternoon (Jun 23), customs officers conducted an operation and arrested a 27-year-old jobless man in Tsim Sha Tsui. Officers also raided a commercial building unit in the district and seized 500 g of liquid meth and drug packaging equipment. 

Customs continued that a 17-year-old male was arrested in Australia last Tuesday (Jun 25). It is believed that the young man was arranged by the drug syndicate to fly to Australia to receive and handle the drugs on that end. 

Australian law enforcement officers also seized about 1 kg of crystal meth from the man’s home. 

Customs pointed out that the price of crystal meth in Australia is four to five times more expensive than that in Hong Kong and it is the second most popular drug in the country. 

It is believed that the drug syndicate – trying to take advantage of Hong Kong’s status as an international logistics and aviation hub – imported a significant amount of drugs for repackaging and overseas distribution in order to generate revenue from the price difference. 

It is also uncommon that the drug dealers put so much effort into hiding the drugs in the stone statues, customs added. 

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