Hong Kong customs officials have scored a major victory in their efforts to curb the flow of illicit drugs through one of Africa's fastest growing cocaine transit hubs - Ethiopia.
On October 1st, officers discovered around 950 grams of cocaine concealed in the carry-on luggage of a 26-year-old male passenger who had arrived at Hong Kong International Airport from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with a connection in Doha, Qatar.
Recent United Nations reporting has highlighted Ethiopia's strategic location and transport infrastructure has made it a prime target for drug trafficking networks over the past years.
In a report published in April 2023, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime revealed criminal groups in Brazil are increasingly using Ethiopia's Bole International Airport as a key regional hub to transport cocaine to consumer markets in Europe and beyond.
Of documented cocaine seizures from Brazil with a known African destination between 2018-2021, over 60% were bound for airports in Ethiopia.
Hong Kong Customs Office said the seizure is another example of how traffickers are exploiting Ethiopia's position to smuggle large volumes of cocaine overseas.
If convicted, the suspect faces a maximum penalty under local drug laws of $5 million HKD in fines and life imprisonment, reflecting the government’s zero-tolerance approach.
