Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine worth about $5.3 million at airport (with photo)
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A male passenger, aged 18, arrived in Hong Kong from Brussels, Belgium via Dubai, the United Arab Emirates yesterday. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found about 13 kg of suspected ketamine in his check-in suitcase and 69 sticks of illicit cigarette from his carry-on bag. The man was subsequently arrested.
The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of dutiable goods. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on June 9.
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, any person who imports, possesses, sells or buys dutiable commodities without a valid licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Ends/Saturday, June 7, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:03
Issued at HKT 19:03
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