Hong Kong Customs Seize Over 30 Kilograms of Cannabis Buds Worth $6.1 Million in Two Trafficking Cases

Two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport were detected by Hong Kong Customs on October 25 and 26, resulting in the seizure of approximately 30.5 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $6.1 million. Three individuals suspected of being connected to the cases were arrested. In the first case, two male passengers, aged 45 and 37, were arrested after Customs officers found a batch of suspected cannabis buds weighing about 3 kilograms with an estimated market value of about $600,000 concealed in a carry-on suitcase. In the second case, a 62-year-old male passenger was arrested after Customs officers found approximately 27.5 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $5.5 million in his check-in suitcases.

Key Takeaways:

• Two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment were detected by Hong Kong Customs at Hong Kong International Airport on October 25 and 26.
• Approximately 30.5 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds were seized with a total estimated market value of about $6.1 million.
• Three individuals suspected of being connected to the cases were arrested.
• In the first case, a 45-year-old male passenger and a 37-year-old male passenger were arrested after Customs officers found 3 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $600,000 concealed in a carry-on suitcase.
• In the second case, a 62-year-old male passenger was arrested after Customs officers found 27.5 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $5.5 million in his check-in suitcases.
• The two arrested men in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug.
• Freight forwarders and airline companies are urged to cooperate with Customs to prevent any potential drug trafficking activities.
• 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.

Statistics:

• 30.5 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds were seized with a total estimated market value of about $6.1 million.
• 3 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds were found in the first case with an estimated market value of about $600,000.
• 27.5 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds were found in the second case with an estimated market value of about $5.5 million.
• The two arrested men in the first case will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on October 27.

Sources:

• Hong Kong Government special administrative region -- 4 Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (October 25) and today (October 26) and seized a total of about 30.5 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $6.1 million.