Author: nomasmulas

European anti-mafia raids target over 100 suspects

Police made dozens of arrests across Europe as part of a “wide-scale” operation against the notorious Italian ‘Ndrangheta mafia, officials said on Wednesday.

In Germany, hundreds of officers carried out raids in five parts of the country, regional prosecutors said in a statement, adding that operations also took place in Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

Thirty people were arrested in Germany alone as dozens of apartments, houses and offices were searched.

Continue reading European anti-mafia raids target over 100 suspects

None arrested as customs seize HK$28.5m worth of ‘ice’ drug in thermoforming machine

Customs seized 45 kg of the drug “ice” worth about HK$28.5 million in a thermoforming machine arriving from Mexico on Sunday but had yet to arrest anyone connected to the case.

In the early hours of Sunday (Apr 16), customs officers inspected air cargo, declared to be a thermoforming machine weighing 340 kg, which would be further flown to Australia after transiting in Hong Kong.

Continue reading None arrested as customs seize HK$28.5m worth of ‘ice’ drug in thermoforming machine

Three Hongkongers arrested in Macau for trafficking HK$100,000 worth of drugs

Three Hongkongers, including two youngsters aged 17 and 19, were arrested in Macau over a drug trafficking case in which about HK$100,000 of drugs were seized by police there.

Macau police first targeted and arrested one of the teenagers in New Port on Wednesday night. Officers later seized 32.6 g of ketamine, 3.3 g of “ice” drug, 7.3 g of cocaine, and 3.8 g of an unknown powder in the teen’s hotel room.

Continue reading Three Hongkongers arrested in Macau for trafficking HK$100,000 worth of drugs

Woman arriving from Africa caught keeping 67 cocaine pills inside body and arrested

A 35-year-old woman arriving in Hong Kong from Africa was arrested by customs on Sunday for smuggling 67 cocaine pills weighing about 1 kg inside her body.

The woman flew to the SAR from Nairobi, Kenya via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Continue reading Woman arriving from Africa caught keeping 67 cocaine pills inside body and arrested

Easy money, harsh consequences

I’ve been imprisoned for almost a year and I feel much remorse for what I did…for the unwise decisions that brought me to this situation.

Between the time I graduated from high school to the time before I got arrested, I used to hang out regularly with a few close friends from high school once or twice per month. Even during the pandemic, we would still get together.

At the beginning of the pandemic, all businesses went downhill. I was a full-time demolition worker and also worked part-time as an Uber driver. When the Covid-19 outbreak gripped Mainland China, all major delivery services were greatly affected. Many goods could not be delivered to Hong Kong, which greatly affected my income. There was a time when I only had work for ten days in a month, and I got paid on a daily basis when there was a job for me. Even my close friends were in a similar situation thus, they couldn’t really offer me help.

Continue reading Easy money, harsh consequences

Man arrested for HK$4 million cocaine manufacturing and trafficking in Tin Shui Wai

Police announced on Sunday that a drug manufacturing workshop was smashed in Tin Shui Wai with 4.3 kilograms of cocaine seized and a 34-year-old arrested.

The arrestee, surnamed Lai, was unemployed and intercepted by officers during an anti-narcotics operation last Friday.

Continue reading Man arrested for HK$4 million cocaine manufacturing and trafficking in Tin Shui Wai

Path of regret: A mother’s struggle with drug addiction and redemption

I am a 43-year-old woman who grew up in a normal and healthy family with my parents and six siblings. I first encountered drugs when I was around 16 or 17 years old. A schoolmate from a higher grade let me try cocaine for the first time. After graduating from Form 5, I started working as a salesperson and continued to support my drug habit by using my salary to purchase cocaine. I attempted to join a voluntary drug detoxification program twice, but was unsuccessful. I just couldn’t manage to detoxify within only 14 days.

Later on, I met my current husband, who knew about my drug addiction and hoped I could quit. Unfortunately, my addition had a strong grip on me and I was unable to overcome it. We have three children, but I continued to use cocaine. Continue reading Path of regret: A mother’s struggle with drug addiction and redemption

Year’s biggest drug bust nets HK$100m cocaine with one suspect arrested

Police on Tuesday cracked the city’s largest cocaine trafficking case this year, seizing more than 164 kilograms of drugs with a market value of HK$136 million and arresting a man in Fanling.

The 45-year-old arrestee surnamed Fan was unemployed and intercepted by officers during an anti-narcotics operation.

Continue reading Year’s biggest drug bust nets HK$100m cocaine with one suspect arrested

Indonesia arrests four foreigners for alleged drug smuggling

Indonesian authorities said Wednesday they have arrested four foreigners for allegedly trying to smuggle drugs into the country, including a Nigerian man who had swallowed dozens of capsules filled with more than a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of methamphetamine.

A Brazilian man and three Nigerian men were arrested separately between January and March at Soekarno-Hatta international airport in Jakarta and several apartments in the capital, police spokesperson Trunoyudo Wisnu Andika told a news conference in Jakarta.

Indonesia is a major hub for drug trafficking in Southeast Asia and has strict drug laws, with convicted smugglers sometimes executed by firing squad.

Continue reading Indonesia arrests four foreigners for alleged drug smuggling

$1.1m worth of methamphetamine discovered inside pair of African drums

Customs have seized two kilograms of suspected methamphetamine worth about HK$1.1 million inside two djembe drums in an air cargo from Africa at the Chek Lap Kok airport at the weekend.

Customs officers said they arrested a 36-year-old male driver of a transportation company who was hired by drug traffickers to collect the goods at the air cargo terminal to be delivered to rural area in Yuen Long.

Through risk assessment, they inspected the air cargo consignment from Africa, which claimed to be carrying handicrafts.

Continue reading $1.1m worth of methamphetamine discovered inside pair of African drums

Mastermind who coerced two young women to traffic cocaine into HK sentenced 27 years

A 33-year-old man was on Friday jailed for 27 years for recruiting two young women to traffic nearly 2 kg of cocaine into Hong Kong hidden in their suitcases three years ago. The two women were also jailed for 12 years and three months.

The mastermind was Lam Hoi-kit, and the two women were Chung Lai-tung, 23, and Ho Hiu-ling, 26. The three were earlier convicted of trafficking in dangerous drugs by a jury.

Continue reading Mastermind who coerced two young women to traffic cocaine into HK sentenced 27 years

Customs seizes HK$24.8m worth of opium and ketamine at HK airport

Hong Kong Customs said on Friday that they have uncovered two drug trafficking cases at the Hong Kong International Airport and seized 130 kilograms of opium and 16 kilograms of ketamine, with an estimated market value of HK$24.8 million.

Customs officers of the Airport Command inspected a cargo declared as “plastic bottles” being shipped from Pakistan to the city and found the batch of opium within, with the batch estimated to be worth HK$15 million.

Continue reading Customs seizes HK$24.8m worth of opium and ketamine at HK airport

Customs to step up anti-smuggling work

The Customs and Excise Department said on Wednesday that officers will step up inspections for contraband, after reporting a substantial surge in drug trafficking cases last year.

Authorities said they seized around seven tonnes of drugs last year – a 70 percent jump from the year before.

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The Jade Exchange

I am writing from a correctional institution, where I am on remand awaiting trial. I’m being charged with “trafficking in dangerous drugs”.

Allow me to share my story.

My accomplice and I were acquainted through an online recruitment ad. We were assigned to travel to Brazil and Kuala Lumpur respectively. Our recruiter first asked my accomplice to pick up a package of jade from Brazil and then travel back to Hong Kong.

Continue reading The Jade Exchange

A female passenger from Madagascar arrested at the Hong Kong International Airport for drug trafficking, with about 780 grams of suspected methamphetamine worth HK$440,000 seized

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 19) detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 780 grams of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $440,000. An incoming woman was arrested.

Continue reading A female passenger from Madagascar arrested at the Hong Kong International Airport for drug trafficking, with about 780 grams of suspected methamphetamine worth HK$440,000 seized