Woman arriving from Namibia arrested at airport for trafficking HK$2.2m worth of cocaine

A 55-year-old woman was arrested at the airport on Friday as customs detected a drug trafficking case and seized about HK$2.2 million worth of cocaine weighing 2 kg. 

The woman arrived in Hong Kong from Windhoek, Namibia, via Addis Ababa of Ethiopia and Dubai of the United Arab Emirates yesterday (Fri), customs said. 

During clearance, officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed in false compartments of her carry-on handbag. She was subsequently arrested. 

The arrested woman has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. She will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (Oct 16). 

“Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily,” customs said. 

“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,” it added. 

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in dangerous drugs is a serious offense and the maximum penalty carries a HK$5 million fine and life imprisonment.