Officials at Hong Kong International Airport have uncovered 11kg of suspected cocaine hidden within the cushions of an electrical wheelchair.
The haul has an estimated market worth of about HK$12m (£1.2m) and was discovered when a 51-year-old man was going by way of customs on Saturday.
He arrived in Hong Kong from the Caribbean nation of Sint Maarten through Paris, and has been arrested.
“Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed inside the interlinings of the cushions and the back of his check-in electric wheelchair,” officers mentioned.
The wheelchair was considered one of two items of his checked baggage.
It was searched when customs officers turned suspicious after it was scanned they usually discovered proof its seat cushion and backrest had been opened and restitched.
The man, who was utilizing crutches, advised officers he was a automobile rental firm director and the wheelchair had been loaned to him by a good friend to be used throughout his travels, in response to native media stories.
Read extra world information:
Muslim boy, 6, dies in suspected hate crime
Poland’s opposition chief declares election victory
Smuggling medication is a critical offence in Hong Kong.
The most penalty upon conviction is a high-quality of HK$5m (£525,793) and life imprisonment.
There have been a number of extensively reported circumstances of individuals utilizing wheelchairs to smuggle medication lately.
In September final 12 months, nearly £1.2m value of cocaine was present in a motorised wheelchair at Milan Malpensa Airport in Italy.
Source: information.sky.com”