Woman was caught at airport with 4kg of the drug disguised as a gift of sweets
A Japanese tour guide who tried to smuggle more than 4kg of the drug Ice out of Hong Kong - disguised as gift-wrapped candy - was jailed for 25 years yesterday. The judge described her fate as a warning to other potential drug couriers.
In passing the sentence, Mr Recorder Wong Ching-yue said he was certain the very severe sentence would be a tremendous shock to Kai Toyoko, 44, and that it would be reported in Japanese newspapers.
'Be that as it may, such severe treatment is obviously necessary for the offence of trafficking in dangerous drugs,' he said, sitting in the Court of First Instance.
'It must be made clear to all and sundry worldwide that [Hong Kong] ... views trafficking in dangerous drugs as an extremely dangerous offence and, once convicted, there is little mitigation available.'
Toyoko showed no emotion from the dock after sentence was passed. She had denied two counts of trafficking 4.81kg of Ice, but a Court of First Instance jury found her guilty.