Hong Kong customs has, for the first time, uncovered a drug smuggling operation involving an underwater compartment of a large cargo ship, resulting in the seizure of HK$256 million (US$32.9 million) worth of suspected cocaine.
The operation last month, supported by intelligence from mainland China and underwater robots, also disrupted what investigators believed was an attempt to use the vessel as a huge drug storage site.
Customs Drug Investigation Bureau head Lau Yuk-lung said on Tuesday that underwater robots and officers discovered 11 packs of suspected cocaine, weighing about 417kg (917lbs), in the vessel’s sea chest – a compartment located 11 metres (36 feet) below sea level.
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A sea chest, built into a ship’s hull, is typically used to draw in seawater to cool engines and support other on-board systems.
“Concealing drugs underneath a vessel is extremely rare. The sea chest is located 11 metres below sea level with a very narrow entrance. We do not exclude the possibility that only professional divers can access the location as no ordinary person can get in,” Lau said.
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“The syndicate concealed the drugs in the sea chest and thought it was a relatively safe location.”