Three held at airport over HK$5.3 million cannabis haul
Crhk · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong Customs arrested three mainland Chinese men at Hong Kong International Airport after seizing about 26 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated street value of HK$5.3 million. The suspects, aged 42 to 64, had arrived on a flight originating in Bangkok, Thailand, with a transit stop in Hanoi, Vietnam. Customs said the operation followed intelligence exchanges with mainland anti-narcotics authorities, and officers found the suspected drugs in two checked suitcases during baggage inspection. The three men have been charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug and are due to appear at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today.
Key Points
- Customs officers intercepted the three men during clearance at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 26 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds.
- The suspected drugs were estimated to carry a black-market or street value of around HK$5.3 million, according to Customs.
- The arrested men are mainland Chinese, aged between 42 and 64, and were traveling from Bangkok to Hong Kong via Hanoi.
- Officers discovered the suspected cannabis concealed inside two pieces of checked baggage after acting on intelligence shared with mainland anti-narcotics departments.
- Customs said it will keep analyzing intelligence and applying risk-management measures to target passengers arriving from higher-risk regions
Why It Matters
The case points to continued enforcement pressure at Hong Kong's main air gateway, especially on routes linked to higher-risk drug trafficking patterns. It also underlines the role of cross-boundary intelligence sharing between Hong Kong and mainland authorities in intercepting suspected narcotics before they enter the local market.