Hong Kong seizes $98 million cocaine

Hong Kong, July 7 (IANS) At least three people have been arrested after custom officials in Hong Kong seized city's biggest drug haul of about 650 kg, having an estimated market value of $98 million, Xinhua reported.

According to the Hong Kong government' news website, Hong Kong Customs detected a cocaine trafficking case with a record seizure of 649 kg worth.

On Wednesday, a container from Ecuador's Quayaquil City, stated to be containing "Laurel Wood" arrived in Hong Kong at Kwai Chung Container Terminals.

Later, a container truck took that container and delivered it to a designated location for being collected by two men.

When examined by the customs officers, the container had 22 nylon bags in it containing a total of 541 slabs of cocaine, with each slab weighing about 1,200 grams.

According to the city's Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking is a serious offence and the maximum penalty is up to life imprisonment and a fine of five million HK dollars.