Hong Kong Customs detects two drug trafficking cases involving incoming passengers at airport (with photos)
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In the first case, a 48-year-old Japanese male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found 7.5kg of suspected cocaine inside his check-in baggage, and 52 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.
In the second case, a 34-year-old British male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from London, the United Kingdom, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found 16kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in baggage, and one suspected alternative smoking product and four boxes of suspected Part 1 poisons inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.
The arrested man in the first case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of possession of dutiable goods and one count of failing to declare to a member of the Customs and Excise Service the possession of dutiable goods. The arrested man in the second case has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of importing an alternative smoking product and one count of possession of Part 1 poison. The two cases will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (September 8).
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.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two 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/Monday, September 7, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:35
Issued at HKT 18:35
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