A local man has been arrested for smuggling cannabis oil from Zhuhai to Macau hidden in a seasoning packet inside a cup of instant noodles, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokeswoman Lei Hon Nei said during a special press conference yesterday.
The 31-year-old suspect surnamed Cheong told the police he’s jobless.
According to Lei, the Judiciary Police recently learnt through an intelligence exchange with the Zhuhai police that a Macau resident intended to mail drug packages from Thailand to Zhuhai and then smuggle them to Macau through the Barrier Gate checkpoint. The police then launched an investigation in cooperation with Zhuhai and Macau customs officers and identified Cheong.
Lei said that on Sunday afternoon, the Judiciary Police received a report from the mainland police that a package, which they suspected to be containing drugs, had arrived at a logistics company in Gongbei and had been picked up by Cheong. After Cheong returned to Macau later, he was intercepted in a car park near the checkpoint.
Police officers found cannabis oil, with an estimated street value of 8,000 patacas, hidden in a seasoning packet in a cup of instant noodles amongst other snacks in the package, Lei said, adding that they later seized an e-cigarette and two e-cigarette cartridges containing cannabis oil from Cheong’s flat and vehicle.
Under questioning, Cheong admitted that he had smoked cannabis habitually while living outside Macau in the past. He said that recently he found an online cannabis seller and purchased the drugs, adding that he paid 2,000 patacas for the cannabis oil in the cup of instant noodles.
Cheong was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, facing various drug-related charges, Lei said.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the hooded local suspect to a PJ vehicle outside the PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday. – Photos: William Chan
Evidence seized from the suspect such as a cup of instant noodles, e-cigarettes and cannabis oil are displayed during yesterday’s special press conference at the pressroom of the Judiciary Police (PJ) headquarters.
