Hong Kong officials find suspected heroin concealed inside the packaging of 37 packs of coffee powder on April 21. Picture by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.

 

by Mitch Connor

Thai and Lao nationals were allegedly involved in the recent seizure of a heroin shipment at Hong Kong International Airport, controlled by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB). In response to Hong Kong officials’ alert on Friday, April 21, Thai authorities launched an investigation into the shipment.

 

Upon examination, Hong Kong officials discovered suspected heroin concealed within the packaging of 37 packs of coffee powder. The total weight of the heroin was approximately 53 kilogrammes. Thai narcotics and customs officials established a link between the shipment and a major transborder trafficking ring, suspected of having sent three shipments to Hong Kong during March and April this year.

To issue arrest warrants, Thai officials have requested information about one Thai and two Lao citizens employed by the private transport company responsible for the shipment from their Hong Kong counterparts. As part of the investigation, this information will also be shared with narcotics control authorities in Laos, targeting the drug trafficking ring.

 

Wichai Chaimongkol, the ONCB’s secretary-general, said that since January, the Thai Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) and the Seaport Interdiction Task Force (SITF) have been working closely with Hong Kong authorities. During this period, they seized nine shipments containing a total of 74.6kg of crystal meth and 47.5kg of heroin.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/three-arrested-in-connection-to-heroin-shipment-seized-at-hong-kong-airport

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-04-26

 

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Hong Kong should get advice from Singapore.