Hong Kong Customs detects three drug trafficking cases at airport (with photos)
*******************************************************************************
In the first case, through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs officers on September 3 inspected an air parcel, declared as monosodium glutamate and arriving in Hong Kong from Netherlands at the airport. The consignee address was a residence in Mong Kok. Upon inspection, Customs officers found about 10 kilograms of suspected ketamine, with an estimated market value of about $4.6 million, concealed inside the parcel.
After follow-up investigations, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation yesterday (September 4) in Mong Kok and arrested a male consignee, aged 42, who claimed to be a logistics worker. After that, Customs officers conducted a search at a hotel in To Kwa Wan and further seized about 33.5g of suspected cocaine, 4 suspected MDMA tablets, and 3 inhalation apparatuses with an estimated market value of about $26,000.
The second case involved a 56-year-old male passenger, who claimed to be unemployed, arriving in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday (September 4). During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 14.5kg of suspected cannabis bud with an estimated market value of about $3.3 million, concealed inside silver-coloured bags in his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.
The third case involved a 30-year-old female passenger, who claimed to be a domestic worker, arriving in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, today (September 5). During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 10.5kg of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.4 million, concealed in her check-in suitcase. The woman was subsequently arrested.
Investigations of these three cases are 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/Friday, September 5, 2025
Issued at HKT 21:45
Issued at HKT 21:45
NNNN
Photo
