COURT: The defendant has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic in a dangerous drug in the Magistrates’ Court. After his committal to this court for sentence, he has made an attempt to reverse his plea but unsuccessfully.
In the afternoon on 24 February 2021, the defendant was intercepted by police officers outside a factory building in Tai Kok Tsui. In a nylon bag the defendant was carrying, police officers found 4.05 kilogrammes of cocaine. Using keys found on the defendant, police officers managed to enter an premises inside the factory building. A further 14.327 kilogrammes of cocaine was found. The premises was rented by the defendant two days earlier.
Under caution, the defendant admitted among others that he knew those were dangerous drugs of some kind but did not know the precise nature.
The defendant is 30, educated up to Form 6 level. Prior to his arrest, he was a delivery worker. He has one criminal conviction involving three offences but none related to dangerous drugs.
Although the defendant has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy charge, he was in fact storing and transporting the dangerous drugs in question. The total quantity seized on that day was 18.377 kilogrammes of cocaine. Without any evidence pointing to otherwise, the defendant will be treated as a simple courier in the present case.
The starting point for trafficking in 18.377 kilogrammes is one of 27 years and 8 months’ imprisonment. As the defendant has made an unsuccessful attempt to reverse his plea, only 25 per cent discount will be given. The conspiracy period is less than one month, as such this court is not going to enhance the sentence further.
For the sole offence the defendant stands convicted, he is therefore sentenced to 20 years and 9 months’ imprisonment.