Customs bust cocaine worth HK$390m hidden among container of marshmallows

Two people were arrested after Customs and police seized 318 kilograms of suspected cocaine worth about HK$390 million.

The forces mounted a joint operation on Tuesday (Nov 7) and locked onto a large parked container ship heading to Jordan from Guatemala via Hong Kong.

Upon inspection, it was discovered that among the three suspicious containers that were declared to be holding marshmallows, one had a trace of being opened and had a suspicious seal number.

Customs said an X-ray inspection revealed that nine waterproof bags were placed at the front of the container and near its door, and they suspected that it was contraband, which later tested positive for cocaine.

They seized 318 bricks of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about HK$390 million, along with life jackets and buoys.

A 24-year-old local man and a 19-year-old Ecuadorian man were arrested on suspicion of trafficking in dangerous drugs.

They will appear in West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (Nov 10).

According to the police spokesman, there is currently no evidence that the batch of drugs was headed for Hong Kong. He added that it cannot be ruled out that the drugs in the waterproof bags would have been dropped in the sea as they passed through Asia, which would then be picked up and supplied to nearby markets.

A preliminary investigation indicated that Hong Kong was not the transit point for the drugs.

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