Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine at airport (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs on September 17 seized about 15 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $7.26 million at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A 42-year-old foreign male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Dusseldorf, Germany, via Helsinki, Finland, on that day. During customs clearance, the batch of suspected ketamine was seized from 30 coffee powder packages inside his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     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. 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).