Hong Kong police arrest man for allegedly smuggling HK$19 million of cocaine

Hong Kong police have arrested a man suspected of trafficking cocaine worth around HK$19 million (US$2.4 million) during his flight from San Francisco.

Police said on Tuesday that officers from its narcotics bureau had arrested a 34-year-old man during a drug prevention operation at Hong Kong International Airport the day before.

Officers had intercepted the man in the arrival hall of the airport, where they seized about 23kg (50.7lbs) of suspected cocaine in his luggage, with a market value of about HK$18.9 million.

After a preliminary investigation, the man was arrested on suspicion of “trafficking in dangerous drugs”.

The suspect is reportedly a Canadian national who posed as a tourist and had flown into the city on a direct flight from San Francisco.

He had reportedly been paid tens of thousands of dollars as a reward for trafficking the drugs.