Drug busters: Customs Airport Investigation Division Divisional Commander Donald Wong, Drug Investigation Bureau Head Ben Leung and Air Passenger Division Divisional Commander Chik Bun-hung and the seized heroin.

Customs officers have arrested 15 Africans, aged 18 to 41, at the airport for trafficking 30kg of high-grade heroin worth $14 million in their bodies.

Acting on intelligence, officers arrested a Tanzanian man arriving in Hong Kong from Iran via Doha at the airport on September 27. He was found carrying 142 pellets containing 2.1kg of heroin.

Thirteen more Tanzanians, a Kenyan and a Mozambican were arrested November 5 to 19. Five took the same flight from Iran on November 15, and another six took another flight from the country yesterday. It is estimated that each had internally concealed about 2kg of the drug.

Customs Drug Investigation Bureau Head Ben Leung said: "Our successful enforcement has sent a strong message to potential drug traffickers - they will have to pay a very high price and suffer heavy losses in the end."

Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee commended the officers for their efforts, and encouraged them to uphold their professionalism in clamping down on drug trafficking and maintain close co-operation with their Mainland counterparts.

Commissioner of Customs & Excise Timothy Tong said a seminar will be held in Hong Kong in January where regional authorities will map out enhanced co-operation against drug trafficking.