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Malaysian tour group arrested at Hong Kong airport with HK$4 million worth of ketamine

Police said they had not seen smuggling efforts on such a scale from Malaysia in about a decade

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Customs officers seized the ketamine from a tour group at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: David Wong

Six members of a sightseeing group from Malaysia have been arrested by customs officers at Hong Kong International Airport for attempting to carry nearly HK$4 million worth of ketamine into the city – the first such arrests in a decade.

The Post understands that the previous capture of Malaysians for drug trafficking at the airport was made about 10 years ago.

The six male Malaysian travellers aged between 18 and 28 were intercepted for inspection at the airport’s customs clearance counter following their arrival from Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

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“More than 8 kilograms of suspected ketamine was found strapped to the bodies of four of the six men,” a source with the knowledge of the case said. “The haul had an estimated street value of HK$3.9 million.”

He said an initial investigation showed the consignment was for local consumption.

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When asked why they joined a tour group, he said it was possible drug dealers believed members of a tour group would have received less scrutiny at a control point on entering the city.

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