Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 12) detected two drug trafficking cases involving incoming air passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized a total of about 24 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $5 million.
      
     The first case involved a 45-year-old Mainland male passenger, and the second case involved a 52-year-old Mainland male passenger. Both arrived in Hong Kong from Chiang Mai, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 12kg of suspected cannabis buds in their check-in suitcases respectively. The two men were subsequently arrested.
      
     The two arrested men have each been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug respectively and the two cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (August 14).
      
     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, August 13, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:05

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