COURT: D2, you have pleaded guilty to a very serious offence of trafficking in dangerous drugs, that being 1.8 kilograms of what is commonly known as ice, otherwise known as methamphetamine hydrochloride.
Very briefly, so far as you’re concerned, what had happened is this. At about 10 pm on the 23rd of May of last year at the airport, all three of you defendants plus a fourth person were checking into a flight to Sydney. Police officers, acting on information, intercepted you and took you to the police post. There you were searched and six packets containing 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride were found strapped to your legs. When asked what the packets were, you replied, “Ah sir, they’re dangerous drugs.”
In your handbag, there was found a total of HK$52,134.70 and Aud$1,800. You also had four mobile phones. The street value of the dangerous drugs found was approximately HK$1,362,930. In a video recorded interview you made a full and frank confession.
You are of hitherto clear record. You are 40 years of age, educated to Form 5 and single. Prior to arrest, I am told you were working as a masseuse, earning about $10,000 per month.
It is clear to me that you were entirely cooperative with the authorities upon arrest. On your behalf, Mr Davies stressed your clear record, the lack of sophistication in the planning of this offence and the minor nature of your role as a courier. He also produced three letters of support which were read to the court in gist.
Very helpfully, Mr Power has produced to court a list of authorities. The sentence that I am about to deliver is based mainly on the second authority produced, that’s HKSAR v Stojanovic Mika, CACC 110 of 2010. In that case, there was a slightly less amount of ice imported, brought into Hong Kong. In that case, the Court of Appeal approved sentence of 20 years, enhanced to 22 years with a one‑third discount for the plea of guilty.
In the present case, I intend to adopt a starting point of 20 and a half years, enhanced to 22 and a half years based on the international element. You are entitled to receive one-third discount for your plea of guilty, so therefore you go to prison for a period of 15 years.