The Judiciary Police (PJ) apprehended a man from the Chinese mainland on Saturday for smuggling 4.559 kilograms of heroin worth 6.38 million patacas, PJ spokesman Cheong Siu Keong said during a special press conference yesterday.
Cheong identified the suspect as a 20-year-old male surnamed Kang.
According to Cheong, based on a tip-off, the Judiciary Police (PJ) identified Kang as a drug-smuggling suspect on a flight from a foreign country to Macau on Saturday. Officers from the Macau Customs Service (SA) and the Public Security Police (PSP) apprehended Kang when he was retrieving his suitcase.
The officers found the suitcase unusually heavy after removing all his personal items and realised that the fabric of its side compartments had been unfastened, creating hidden spaces that concealed two bags coated with pungent chilli oil and coffee powder, suspected to mask the drug’s scent to deceive sniffer dogs. The officers seized the two bags containing a total of 4.559 kg of a pale powdery substance, which was later confirmed to be heroin, with an estimated street value of 6.38 million patacas.
Cheong noted that Kang had been recruited by a drug trafficking syndicate and was promised a “remuneration” of 5,000 yuan to smuggle drugs from overseas to Macau.
Kang was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, facing a drug-trafficking charge.
Cheong reaffirmed that drug trafficking is a serious criminal offence, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Cheong urged the public to remain vigilant and refrain from accepting requests to carry unknown items to Macau. Additionally, the Judiciary Police (PJ) will continue to strengthen drug enforcement efforts at all border checkpoints to prevent the influx of drugs, Cheong said.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the hooded drug-trafficking suspect to a PJ van outside the PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday. – Photo: Ada Lei
