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Customs investigators in Hong Kong have intercepted a record 444 kg of liquid cocaine hidden in a 20-foot shipping container with bag-in-box wines. They arrested two people. The estimated street value of the cocaine was almost 59 million euros, according to the Hong Kong Narcotics Bureau. It was the largest amount of liquid cocaine found since records began more than 20 years ago.
Investigators made the discovery on 19 December after finding "signs of resealing" in 37 of the 706 boxes in the container. Each of the 37 crates contained four bag-in-boxes, each containing three litres of white wine. Its origin is unknown. The samples taken after the discovery tested positive for cocaine, according to the Hong Kong Narcotics Bureau. The investigators made further cocaine finds in the container in grape juice and other drinks. The picture shows the cocaine extracted by customs from the bag-in-box wines.
While drugs were previously often hidden in bottles of spirits, wine is currently being used more and more frequently to disguise the smuggling of illegal substances, according to the customs authorities. For example, a couple was recently arrested in Shanghai after customs investigators found cocaine dissolved in 32 bottles of top-quality wine in their suitcases after landing.
(uka / Sources: Drinks Business, Hong Kong Customs Department)