Hong Kong customs seizes HK$256 million of suspected cocaine stashed in ship hull
Underwater robots help detect 417kg of suspected cocaine wrapped in 11 waterproof packages concealed behind grate of sea chest
Hong Kong customs has, for the first time, uncovered a drug smuggling operation involving an underwater compartment of a large cargo ship, resulting in the seizure of HK$256 million (US$32.9 million) worth of suspected cocaine.
The operation last month, supported by intelligence from mainland China and underwater robots, also disrupted what investigators believed was an attempt to use the vessel as a huge drug storage site.
Customs’ drug investigation bureau head Lau Yuk-lung said on Tuesday that underwater robots and officers discovered 11 packs of suspected cocaine, weighing about 417kg (917lbs), in the vessel’s sea chest – a compartment located 11 metres (36 feet) below sea level.
A sea chest, built into a ship’s hull, is typically used to draw in seawater to cool engines and support other on-board systems.
“Concealing drugs underneath a vessel is extremely rare. The sea chest is located 11 metres below sea level with a very narrow entrance. We do not exclude the possibility that only professional divers can access the location as no ordinary person can get in,” Lau said.
“The syndicate concealed the drugs in the sea chest and thought it was a relatively safe location.”