Thai Heroin Couriers Held In Hong Kong Airport Sting

[Jai Dee]

Thai heroin couriers held in airport sting

A transnational drug-smuggling syndicate involved in smuggling high-grade heroin into Hong Kong has been foiled in a three-week operation at Hong Kong International Airport.

According to the Customs and Excise Department, seven cases of drug trafficking had been cracked in the operation, codenamed "Curry," from March 21 to April 16.

Six kilograms of heroin, with a retail value of about HK$2.7 million were seized, and eight Thai women were arrested.

The suspects, aged between 22 and 48, have been charged with trafficking dangerous drugs.

"Intelligence suggests these suspects used seven unusual methods to smuggle the drugs, including hiding them in their underwear and napkins, swallowing them or even concealing the drugs in their vagina," said Ben Leung Lun-cheung, head of the department's drug investigation unit. He said one woman, in particular, carried about 800 grams of heroin - the most among the eight suspects detained - in multiple ways.

The couriers were each offered US$2,000 (HK$15,600) for the job.

According to Leung, the drugs were trafficked from the so-called "Golden Crescent" area - comprising parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan and a key supplier to the European markets - through an indirect route.

"The drugs are getting in through Thailand or India, after a decrease in production in the so-called Golden Triangle, the traditional source of drug supply," said Leung, referring to Thailand, Burma and Laos.

"Stricter law enforcement in the trafficking route through Yunnan province has apparently cut off supplies there, forcing traffickers to look for alternative routes," Leung said.

Some of the drugs were believed to be earmarked for Guangzhou, where demand has increased in recent years, possibly due to higher standards of living.

"We'll step up our own efforts and continue to exchange useful information with the mainland authorities in tackling illicit drug trafficking," Leung said, warning that Shanghai could become another distribution hub as the Hong Kong-Guangzhou link is cut off.

A quantity of foreign currencies, including Thai baht, Indian rupees and yuan, was seized in the operation.

"This is a possible indication of the countries the drugs had been smuggled through," Leung said.

Local street value for heroin has increased by 41 percent since January 2005 to HK$457 per gram this January, according to Leung, attributing the rise to a reduction in supply. "The purity of the heroin seized has deteriorated from 55 percent to 39 percent during the period, meaning drug dealers are having a hard time sourcing their goods," he said.

So far this year customs officers have seized a total of 7.6 kilograms of heroin.

Source: The Standard - Saturday, April 21, 2007