Teamwork stops drug smuggling plot

Over 100kg of cocaine seized thanks to cooperation among China, HK, Peru and Australia

BEIJING: Chinese police worked with authorities from Hong Kong, Peru and Australia in foiling an international drug smuggling plot, resulting in the seizure of 117kg of cocaine, the head of the country’s drug enforcement agency said.

The Nov 18 operation led to the arrests of six suspects, including two from Russia, one from India, one from Spain and one from Hong Kong, head of the Narcotics Control Bureau Liang Yun said, hailing it as a sign of China’s growing cooperation in international anti-drug efforts.

China has strict anti-drug laws and has cracked down heavily on domestic production. However, rising affluence has made it a growing market for imported narcotics.

The case shows the drug problem is growing “increasingly severe” in both the region and globally.

However, the successful operation shows the “high expertise of Chinese drug enforcement agencies in combating maritime drug trafficking crimes”, he said.

The cocaine had been stored aboard the freighter South Wisdom that sailed from South America and arrived in the city of Tangshan on July 25, Liang said.

Though members of the gang travelled to the city, they were una- ble to unload the drugs, after which a search turned up 22.3kg of cocaine, he said.

Following a trip to Shanghai for maintenance, the ship returned to Tangshan where a further search turned up 94.6kg of cocaine hidden behind a panel in the steering department.

The six suspects were caught while making a second attempt to retrieve the illicit cargo. Liang also revealed three other cases of drug seizures at sea, including one on Jan 24 in which the crew set their boat on fire as coast guard vessels appeared, in an apparent attempt to destroy the evidence.

Police boarded the burning boat, arrested the crew and towed it to port where inspections found it had been carrying approximately one tonne of methamphetamine, Liang said.