Hong Kong Customs said on 8 September that a four-month international anti-drug operation uncovered 424 cases, seized about 6.1 tonnes of drugs worth an estimated HK$1.4 billion and led to 150 arrests. Operation Fire Array ran from May to August with mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies.
The operation focused on cross-border trafficking through air passenger and cargo channels. Intelligence sharing by Hong Kong Customs also helped overseas authorities intercept cases linked to suspected drug shipments.
Ming Pao reported that 327 cases were linked to Hong Kong International Airport, involving 3.3 tonnes of drugs and 134 arrests. However, the reports supplied do not establish that all 424 cases in the operation involved the airport, as the wider operation also covered cases in Hong Kong and overseas airports.
Reports said the cases comprised 118 involving passenger traffic and 306 involving cargo. The overall number of cases, and according to Ming Pao the amount of drugs seized, rose by about 80 per cent from the same period last year; i-CABLE specifically reported an 80 per cent rise in cases.
The drugs reported in the cases included cannabis, ketamine, methamphetamine and cocaine. They were concealed in items including statues, suitcase linings, paint buckets and blocks made to resemble sugar.
In one case in June, Customs found a passenger-trafficking case at the airport and passed intelligence to North American authorities. The person involved was arrested while leaving that jurisdiction, and the report said the action prevented 28kg of cannabis from being sent to Hong Kong. In another case, Customs broke up an air-freight shipment involving 50kg of cannabis valued at HK$10 million and shared information about the method with overseas agencies.
Hong Kong Customs worked with 21 mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies, including mainland customs anti-smuggling authorities and agencies in Brazil, Germany, France, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey. Ming Pao also reported that Hong Kong shared intelligence with authorities in North America, Asia, Europe and Africa. The supplied reports did not give a full breakdown of subsequent prosecutions or convictions.