Malaysian woman nabbed with 8kg cannabis at HK airport

 The 33-year-old was arrested after the drugs, worth about RM830,000, were found in her checked baggage.

Saturday’s arrest at the Hong Kong International Airport followed three similar cases involving Malaysians at the airport in July. (AP Photo/Emily Wang)

PETALING JAYA:

A 33-year-old Malaysian woman has been arrested at the Hong Kong International Airport after about 8kg of cannabis worth an estimated HK$1.6 million (RM830,000) was found in her checked baggage.

Hong Kong customs said the woman had arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, on Sept 12 before she was detained during a customs inspection.

“During customs clearance, customs officers found about 8kg of suspected cannabis buds inside her check-in baggage. She was subsequently arrested,” it said in a statement.

Under Hong Kong’s Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in dangerous drugs carries a maximum fine of HK$5 million (RM2.6 million) and life imprisonment, upon conviction.

The arrest follows similar cases involving Malaysians caught with cannabis at the airport, including three cases in July.

On July 30, a 27-year-old Malaysian man was arrested after about 3kg of cannabis worth HK$600,000 (RM311,000) was found in his checked baggage following his arrival from Bangkok.

On July 16, a 19-year-old Malaysian man who arrived from Bangkok via Manila in the Philippines was arrested after about 11kg of cannabis worth HK$2 million (RM1.04 million) was found in his checked baggage.

Another 19-year-old Malaysian man was arrested on July 9 after arriving from Kuala Lumpur via Singapore with about 3kg of cannabis worth HK$500,000 (RM260,000) in his baggage. - FMT