Italy arrests three Taiwanese over ketamine bound for Hong Kong
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Italian customs authorities announced on September 23 that officers at Rome Fiumicino Airport uncovered an alleged drug-smuggling operation involving three Taiwanese men and 50 kilograms of ketamine destined for Hong Kong . Two 36-year-old suspects drew attention because of what police considered an unusual flight route, prompting stricter screening of their checked baggage at the airport . Officers said they found 13 sealed packages containing 25 kilograms of ketamine, then traced a third, 43-year-old alleged accomplice staying at a hotel near the airport and seized another 25 kilograms there . Authorities estimated the street value of the drugs at 3 million to 4 million euros, or about HK$26.83 million to HK$35.77 million, and said the case remains under investigation .
Key Points
- Italian media including La Repubblica and RAI reported the case after Italy’s customs authority disclosed the seizure on September 23 .
- Police said two 36-year-old Taiwanese men were flagged at Fiumicino Airport because their travel pattern appeared abnormal .
- A stricter inspection of checked luggage uncovered 13 sealed parcels containing 25 kilograms of ketamine, commonly known as “K” .
- Investigators then searched a hotel room near the airport and found a third Taiwanese suspect, aged 43, with 13 more parcels .
- Authorities said the group flew from Taiwan to Brussels, collected the drugs there, travelled by bus in the Netherlands to Italy, and planned to fly onward to Hong Kong .
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case points to the city’s continued exposure to long-haul narcotics trafficking routes that can involve multiple European transit points before drugs are flown into Asia . It also shows how unusual travel patterns and baggage screening at overseas airports can disrupt shipments before they reach Hong Kong’s market .