Hong Kong drug seizures jump nearly 50% in half-year
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago1 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong customs recorded a sharp rise in drug seizures in the first half of 2026, confiscating 5,704kg of illegal narcotics, nearly half more than a year earlier. Airport interceptions remained the biggest source by volume, while sea-route seizures also climbed strongly after several major cases.
Key Points
- The Customs and Excise Department seized 5,704kg of illegal drugs in the first six months of 2026, a 49 per cent year-on-year increase.
- Airport seizures totalled 3,408kg, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the overall haul and rising 46.6 per cent from the same period last year.
- Sea-route confiscations reached 1,954kg, about one-third of the total, up 55.6 per cent, while 342kg were found at land checkpoints and elsewhere.
- Cannabis and ketamine made up about 60 per cent of all drugs seized, with those substances increasing 40 per cent and 78.8 per cent respectively.
- Customs said syndicates hid drugs in sugar-cube buckets, hollowed-out timber and pool tables, and sometimes recruited ocean-liner crew members or air passengers.
Why It Matters
The figures point to sustained pressure on Hong Kong's border-control system across both passenger and cargo channels, with traffickers spreading risk between air and sea routes. Customs also said the number of detected drug cases and arrests rose slightly, suggesting enforcement agencies are facing a broader smuggling challenge rather than a single isolated spike.