(6 Jul 2012) Hong Kong customs officers have made the city's biggest ever cocaine bust, seizing 649 kilograms (1,430 pounds) of the drug worth 76 (m) million Hong Kong dollars (98 (m) million US dollars).
Customs officials said on Friday that the drugs were in a shipping container that arrived from Ecuador.
The container was one of a batch that the US Drug Enforcement Administration had flagged up to Hong Kong officials for further inspection.
Customs officers followed the shipment as it was driven to a collection point in Hong Kong's suburbs before arresting the driver and two men they believe are members of a local drug syndicate.
Officials believe most of the drugs were destined for Southeast Asia or China.
"We believe that only a small portion would be distributed into the local market because Hong Kong, the cocaine consumption market is not that big," said John Lee, Head of Customs Drug Investigation Bureau.
The seizure tops a haul in 2011 of 560 kilograms (1,234 pounds) of cocaine worth about 77 (m) million US dollars.
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