Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (June 19), and seized a total of about 6 kilograms of suspected ketamine and 5kg of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $3.4 million. Two men were arrested.
      
     The first case involved a 22-year-old British male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, via London, the United Kingdom, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 6 kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.
      
     The second case involved a 41-year-old Chinese male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Phuket, Thailand, yesterday. Customs officers found about 5 kg of suspected cannabis buds inside his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.
      
     Investigations of both cases are on-going.

     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.
      
     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/en).

Ends/Saturday, June 20, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:01

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