Hongkonger arrested with HK$3 million in Ice could face death penalty in Singapore
- Hong Kong narcotics bureau tipped off its counterpart in Singapore after suspecting a drug trafficking syndicate sent people to city state
A Hong Kong man who was arrested in Singapore after HK$3 million (US$384,260) worth of suspected crystal meth was discovered in two stone figurines could face the death penalty in the city state.
Hong Kong police said on Thursday the narcotics bureau tipped off its counterpart in Singapore late last month after suspecting a trafficking syndicate had sent people to the Southeast Asian country for drug-related activities.
Officers from Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested the 25-year-old Hongkonger on Tuesday afternoon in Changi South just after he deposited a package at an airfreight warehouse in the area.
According to police, the package contained two figurines of a Chinese mythological creature called qilin.
“Four bags containing 4.15kg [9lbs] of suspected crystal meth in total were found concealed in the two figurines,” police said, adding that the haul had an estimated street value of HK$3 million.
The meth, also known as Ice, was concealed within the base structure of the two figurines, according to the CNB.
CNB deputy director Leon Chan on Thursday thanked the Hong Kong Narcotics Bureau for sharing intelligence that led to the seizure.
“Drug syndicates operate with no regard for borders and will cooperate with anyone anywhere so long as there are profits to be made. In the face of such criminals, law enforcement agencies must cooperate closely with one another.”
