COURT: The defendant has pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to traffic in a dangerous drug, contrary to section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance and section 4 of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance and is committed to this court for sentence.
On 13 January 2023, a consignment of goods arrived at the Kwai Chung Container Terminal from Canada. Upon examination by Customs and Excise officers, 24.427 kilogrammes of methamphetamine hydrochloride, ie ‘Ice’, 31.386 kilogrammes of herbal cannabis, 3.95 grammes of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine were found hidden inside the container.
A controlled delivery operation was mounted by customs. The consignment was delivered to a warehouse at Yuen Long.
On 17 January 2023, the defendant arrived at the warehouse to collect the consignment. A truck was also hired by the defendant. The consignment was then taken to another location in Yuen Long where the defendant and one other person were trying to cut open the packaging of the consignment for further examination.
At that juncture, they were intercepted and subsequently arrested by customs officers. Under caution, the defendant admitted that he would receive HK$100,000 for collecting the dangerous drugs in question.
The street value of all the dangerous drugs seized was estimated to be over HK$21 million.
The defendant is now 43, educated up to Form 3 level. He was a lorry attendant prior to his arrest. He has seven criminal records which include seven counts of possession of dangerous drugs.
Counsel from both sides have agreed that the starting point for trafficking in the dangerous drugs in question should be around 29 years’ imprisonment, that is given the small amount of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine will be ignored because of its small amount.
In the present case, the defendant assisted in collecting the consignment, arranging its transportation, and ultimately checking the contents of the consignment. He acted more than a simple courier delivering drugs across the streets of Hong Kong. As such, an extra 1 year will be added to the overall starting point in order to reflect the overall criminality of the case.
The defendant of course is entitled to one-third discount for his earliest plea. Apart from his plea, there is nothing in his mitigation which justifies any further reduction.
As such, for the sole offence the defendant stands convicted, he is sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.