Hong Kong seizes $140 million worth of meth hidden in coconut water

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen English + Agencies
29 Oct 2022 14:20

Hong Kong customs announce the city's largest meth bust recorded after seizing 1.8 tonnes of the drug.

1.8 tonnes of liquid meth hidden in coconut water arriving from Mexico seized in Hong Kong.

Authorities in Hong Kong announced on Saturday that the city carried out its largest methamphetamine bust after seizing 1.8 tonnes of liquid meth that were uncovered on a shipment coming from Mexico, estimated to be worth more than HK$1.1 billion ($140 million).

According to customs officials, the drugs, which were concealed in containers of coconut water, were onboard a ship en route for Australia, adding that this could probably be part of an international drug trafficking operation.

The drugs were identified through X-ray imaging of the shipment cargo.

A customs official revealed that the authorities in Hong Kong were given a heads-up on the shipment by overseas law enforcement through intelligence exchanges.

"Coconut water (shipments) from Mexico are extremely rare... the last time was in 2016 and weighed just six kilograms," said customs official Fong Heung-wing, highlighting that the size of the new shipment (of coconut water) made it suspicious.

Chief of the drug investigation bureau at Hong Kong customs, senior superintendent Lee Ka-ming, announced that they "believe the liquid meth, of high purity came from South America. It was packaged there and shipped via a convoluted route to Hong Kong, to be sent to Australia."

According to officials working on the case, the alleged Australian company that was recorded as a recipient of the shipment does not exist online.

Earlier last week, Hong Kong police seized meth hidden in false compartments in 3 electrical transformers, and the drugs' worth was estimated to be around $5.9 million. The city has uncovered so far in 2022 more than double the amount of meth seized in the whole of 2021, as the previous largest drug bust took place back in April, with more than 700 kg of meth uncovered hidden in equipment arriving also from Mexico.