KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 — A 36-year-old Hong Kong man has been arrested after customs officers allegedly found about 1kg of suspected cocaine concealed in the shoes he was wearing upon arriving at Hong Kong International Airport on a flight from Kuala Lumpur last Wednesday.
The New Straits Times (NST) reported that the seizure is the latest in a series of similar cases involving passengers arriving from Kuala Lumpur.
Hong Kong Customs said the man was detained after officers allegedly found about 1kg of suspected cocaine hidden in the shoes he was wearing.
The seized drugs had an estimated street value of HK$600,000 (RM310,817), and investigations are ongoing.
The authorities said the man was stopped during a customs inspection of arriving passengers at the airport.
The latest seizure adds to a string of similar cases linked to flights from Kuala Lumpur.
According to NST, two similar cases involving the seizure of about 1kg of suspected cocaine each were recorded in July, while two travellers were detained on May 17 after officers allegedly recovered 820g and 800g of the drug from their footwear in separate incidents.
Authorities also urged travellers not to transport controlled substances or other prohibited items in exchange for monetary rewards.
Drug trafficking offences in Hong Kong carry penalties of up to life imprisonment and a fine of HK$5 million upon conviction.
