HONG KONG CUSTOMS SAY DRUG COURIER GANG SMASHED

HONG KONG, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Hong Kong Customs officials said they had
uncovered a syndicate trafficking drugs to Taipei with the arrest of a
member of a tour group with 2.8 kg (6lb 3 oz) of heroin strapped to his body.

Friday's arrest followed the January 5 detention of two men travelling to
Taipei with 6.1 kg of heroin strapped in bags around their bodies, the
Customs Drug Investigation Bureau said in a statement.

Last week, Hong Kong and Japanese police seized 100 kg (220 lb) of
methamphatamine, or "ice" abaord an ocean-going vessel in Japan. Nineteen
people were arrested.