Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected dangerous drugs worth about $1.6 million at airport (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs on August 5 detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 3.3 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $1.6 million.

     A 64-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, via Helsinki, Finland, on that day. During Customs clearance, about 3.3kg of suspected ketamine were found concealed in five health supplements packaging in his check-in luggage. The man was subsequently arrested. 

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Following the increasing number of visitors to Hong Kong, 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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).