Hong Kong air cargo drug seizures jump 165 per cent in first five months as Covid-19 restrictions prevent couriers from flying into city

With foreigners unable to transport narcotics on flights, the city’s drug dealers are increasingly flying their supply in as cargo

Among the 1.19 tonnes seized by customs officers was 100kg of cocaine, largely from South America

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More sniffer dogs and more manpower have been employed in the cargo terminals at Hong Kong International Airport as drug mules have been unable to fly into the city because of coronavirus restrictions. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 10:00am, 5 Jun 2020Updated: 5:16pm, 5 Jun 2020

Nearly HK$320 million (US$41 million) worth of illegal drugs had been seized from air cargo mailed into and out of Hong Kong so far this year, as coronavirus travel restrictions forced drug dealers to use airborne shipments rather than human couriers, law enforcement sources said.

Figures obtained by the Post showed that 1.19 tonnes of illicit narcotics was confiscated from 259 shipments intercepted by customs officers at the airport’s cargo terminal in the first five months of the year, up 165 per cent from the 449kg discovered in 211 packages in the same period last year.

One source said the monthly average number of packages found containing illegal drugs jumped from 43 in the first two months of the year to 58 between March and May.

Customs officers demonstrate how X-rays are used to check incoming air parcels at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

The source said the surge in seizures was linked to coronavirus border controls introduced in March. To combat the pandemic, Hong Kong has barred all non-residents from entry from overseas countries since March 25. The city has also required all returning residents, as well as visitors from mainland China, Macau and Taiwan, to undergo quarantine for 14 days.

“Because of the restrictions, trafficking activities involving drug mules have died down. No drug couriers have come to Hong Kong since mid-March,” the source said.