Discovery of 11 kilograms of alleged cocaine in motorized wheelchair in Hong Kong

Officials at Hong Kong International Airport have made a significant drug seizure, uncovering around 11kg of suspected cocaine hidden in the cushions of an electric wheelchair. The estimated value of the haul is $1.5m. The discovery was made during customs clearance when a 51-year-old man arrived from Sint Maarten via Paris. The man has been arrested and could potentially face life imprisonment if found guilty of drug trafficking. The suspect had brought the wheelchair as one of his checked baggage items. Customs officials became suspicious and upon further examination, evidence of restitching was found on the seat cushion and backrest. The individual, who is not a resident of Hong Kong and has mobility issues, claimed to be the director of a car rental company and stated that the wheelchair was loaned to him by a friend. An investigation into the incident has been launched. In response to this discovery, customs officials have announced plans to increase checks on visitors from "high-risk regions" as part of their efforts to combat transnational drug trafficking. According to recent statistics, the number of cases involving dangerous drugs detected in customs checks has been on the rise. In 2022, there were 931 cases, up from 906 the previous year, and 178 related arrests were made. This is not the first case where drugs have been discovered hidden in a wheelchair at an airport. In November, officials in New York seized $450,000 worth of cocaine found in the wheels of a woman's wheelchair. Similarly, in September 2022, approximately $1.6m worth of cocaine was found concealed in the upholstery of a motorized wheelchair in Milan, Italy.