Largest cannabis smuggling case in local history
The Judiciary Police (PJ) busted the largest marijuana smuggling case in Macau’s history on Sunday, apprehending a man from Hong Kong and two men from Malaysia, seizing 31.77 kilogrammes of cannabis buds valued at 31.77 million patacas, PJ spokesman Cheong Siu Keong said during a special press conference yesterday.
Cheong identified the suspects as a 33-year-old Hong Kong resident surnamed Wan, a key member of the drug-trafficking gang who claimed to be jobless; a 23-year-old Malaysian surnamed Cheong who also claimed to be jobless; and a 38-year-old Malaysian clerk surnamed Cheah.
According to Lei Ka Wo, who heads the PJ Narcotics Division, PJ investigators stationed at the local airport analysed intelligence along with risk management, identifying that a drug trafficking group was preparing to send a key member to lead individuals known in Cantonese as “airplane pigs” (those who smuggle drugs as air passengers) in transporting drugs from Thailand via South Korea to Macau, and then on to neighbouring regions.
Lei noted that on Sunday afternoon, PJ officers at the airport identified Cheong, Cheah and Wan as the suspected drug traffickers on a flight arriving from South Korea at 2 p.m. Cheong and Cheah entered Macau separately, while Wan monitored from behind. After Cheong and Cheah collected their luggage, the officers on site immediately intercepted them.
The police seized 16 packages of cannabis buds vacuum-sealed in plastic bags and wrapped in aluminium foil from Cheong’s luggage, weighing about 8,897.5 grams. Additionally, a total of 40 packages of cannabis buds were seized from two suitcases belonging to Cheah, also vacuum-sealed and wrapped in aluminium foil, weighing about 22,796.6 grams. In total, the police seized 31,772 grams of cannabis buds, including packaging, with an estimated street value of 31.77 million patacas. The police later confirmed that the seized substances were indeed marijuana.
Lei added that Cheong and Cheah were recruited by a drug trafficking group in Malaysia. They had received the drug-packed suitcases in Bangkok and, under Wan’s “guidance”, flew together to South Korea on Sunday before transferring to Macau, with the intention of immediately smuggling the drugs into Hong Kong.
Lei said that Wan was a key member of the gang responsible for directing and monitoring the entire drug smuggling process. Cheong and Cheah were promised a reward of 10,000 Malaysian ringgit (19,000 patacas) each for trafficking the cannabis buds. Under questioning, Wan refused to cooperate.
The trio were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, each facing a drug trafficking charge.
Meanwhile, the Judiciary Police (PJ) busted another drug trafficking case yesterday evening at the airport, seizing about 9.436 kilogrammes of cannabis buds, with an estimated street value of 9.43 million patacas. The police apprehended a Malaysian man for trafficking 16 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis bugs in his luggage from Malaysia to Macau via Singapore. Under questioning, the suspect admitted that he was recruited by a drug trafficking gang in Malaysia, claiming that he was promised a reward of 5,000 Malaysia ringgit (9,500 patacas).
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the three hooded drug-trafficking suspects from Malaysia and Hong Kong to a PJ van outside the PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday.
A total of 31.772 kilogrammes of cannabis buds along with three suitcases are displayed in a press room at the Judiciary Police (PJ) headquarters in Zape yesterday.– Photos: Ada Lei
