Hong Kong Customs recently successfully cracked a major drug smuggling case, seizing a batch of heating plates imported from Mexico that concealed 680 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, with a market value of up to HK$360 million. In this operation, Customs arrested three individuals involved, including a 67-year-old male driver and two men aged 45 and 35.

Today (March 5), Tsang Kin-bon, a senior officer of the Customs Drug Investigation Bureau, introduced to the media that on Feb. 10, Customs inspected a 20-foot container at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound and discovered 80 heating plates inside.

Lie Yan-ning, head of the Ports Control Group of the Ports and Maritime Command, explained that upon careful examination, Customs personnel found signs of reassembly on the surface of the metal plates. After further disassembly, they discovered white crystals wrapped in tin foil, which tested positive for crystal methamphetamine. The 67-year-old male driver responsible for collecting the goods was arrested on the spot.

Kwok Tsun-ah, commander of Drug Investigation Division 2, stated that while seizing the drugs, Customs simultaneously initiated a monitoring operation for the delivery. After this batch of drugs had been stored in a Yuen Long container for three weeks, the warehouse received instructions to send the container to a factory building in Tsuen Wan. After two days and nights of surveillance, at 5 PM on March 3, a 45-year-old man, who claimed to be a driver, was seen pushing the pallets into a parking lot warehouse, and Customs arrested him on the spot. That evening, another 35-year-old man, who claimed to be a logistics worker, was arrested as well; they were responsible for receiving and handling the goods.

In summarizing the case, Tsang noted that the criminal gang displayed a high level of patience and meticulous planning. They not only spent considerable effort hiding the crystal methamphetamine in the heating plates but also chose to store it in a remote warehouse for a period to reduce risk before transferring it to an urban warehouse. However, the close monitoring by Customs ultimately led to the failure of their plan.

In the first two months of this year, Customs has already seized 837 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, approaching 70% of last year's total amount. Customs emphasized that trafficking in crystal methamphetamine is a serious crime, punishable by up to HK$5 million in fines and life imprisonment. They also reminded the public that if they observe any suspicious behavior, they can report it through the hotline 1828080.

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