Hong Kong Customs on July 15 and yesterday (July 16) detected two drug trafficking cases involving air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 1.1 kilograms of suspected cocaine and about 12kg of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $3.5 million.

     The first case involved a 41-year-old female passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Lusaka, Zambia, via Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on July 15. During customs clearance, Customs officers found dangerous drugs concealed inside her body cavity. The woman was subsequently arrested. As at 9am today (July 17), the arrested woman has excreted 69 pellets of suspected cocaine weighing about 1.1kg in total with an estimated market value of about $900,000.

     In the second case, a 42-year-old female passenger and a 22-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found a batch of suspected cannabis buds, weighing about 12kg in total, concealed inside their respective carry-on luggage. The estimated market value was about $2.6 million. The two persons were subsequently arrested.

     After an investigation, the arrested woman in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (July 18). An investigation of the second case is still ongoing.

     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.

     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/Thursday, July 17, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:30

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