More drugs found on Hong Kong airport arrivals in first 4 months of year than during all of 2023
- Customs officers discovered 370kg of narcotics on air passengers in January to April period, 32 per cent more than what was seized during all of last year
- Drugs worth HK$200 million taken off 46 arrivals, more than 10 of whom were Hong Kong residents
The amount of illegal drugs confiscated from air travellers at Hong Kong International Airport soared to 370kg (816lbs) in the first four months of the year, a 32 per cent increase over the total amount seized in all of 2023.
Senior Inspector Ivan Chow Wing-cheong of customs’ drug investigation bureau said on Monday the narcotics discovered this year, worth about HK$200 million (US$25.5 million), were taken off 46 arrivals between January 1 and April 28.
Seizures have been steadily rising as travel resumes following the near standstill brought by the pandemic.
Customs officers seized 279kg of illegal drugs from 84 air passengers last year, compared with 17kg found on 15 arrivals the year before. No drugs were found on passengers in 2021, when strict travel restrictions reduced arrivals to a trickle, after officers seized 162kg in 2020 and 256kg in 2019.
A source told the Post that after pandemic travel restrictions were dropped, international drug dealers resumed using couriers to smuggle narcotics into the city.
Chow cautioned residents, especially young people, against accepting cash and free air travel from drug trafficking syndicates.