Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 8) detected two drug trafficking cases involving passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 1 kilogram of suspected MDMA, about 600 grams of suspected liquid methamphetamine and five pieces of suspected alternative smoking products, with a total estimated market value of about $470,000. A man and a woman were arrested.
      
     The first case involved a 48-year-old female passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Vientiane, Laos, via Hanoi, Vietnam, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 1kg of suspected MDMA, with an estimated market of about $200,000, inside her check-in suitcase. The woman was subsequently arrested.
      
     The second case involved a 19-year-old male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Subang, Malaysia, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 600g of suspected liquid methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $270,000 inside his check-in suitcase and five pieces of suspected alternative smoking products inside his carry-on bag. The man was subsequently arrested.
      
     The arrested woman in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and the case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 10), while an investigation is ongoing for the second case.
      
     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 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 Import and Export Ordinance, importing an alternative smoking product is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven 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/Thursday, April 9, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:20

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