Jailed for months without trial, then given 48 hours to leave Hong Kong: 6 foreign nationals told 'get out' after drug charges dropped
Group denied visa extensions after being acquitted of drug trafficking charges
Six foreign nationals cleared of drug trafficking after months behind bars maintaining their innocence have been ordered to leave the city today or face legal action.
A 48-hour ultimatum was issued on Monday after an application to extend their visas was rejected by officials from the Immigration Department.
High Court judge Mr Justice Kevin Zervos ended months of incarceration for the group - who are all elderly or middle-aged - on Friday after the Department of Justice withdrew the charges against them due to a lack of evidence.
READ MORE: Duped 'drug mules' freed in Hong Kong after being detained for attempting to smuggle crystal meth to Australia and New Zealand
Their visas expired while they were behind bars awaiting trial. However, their requests for a short extension were turned down on the grounds that it was not "genuine".
On arrival at Hong Kong International Airport separately between April and November last year, the six - who did not know each other at the time - were arrested when customs officers found several kilos of crystal methamphetamine hidden in their luggage.
They all maintain they were duped by drug syndicates into carrying gifts or bags out of Hong Kong and that they did not know there were drugs inside the items.
Watch: Alleged drug smugglers cleared of charges in Hong Kong
