14 Malaysians held in Hong Kong over suspected drug smuggling

Fifteen Malaysians were apprehended by Hong Kong Customs for suspected drug smuggling activities in the first half of the year. Although the quantity of drugs recovered may seem minimal, such smuggling is considered a serious offense. The largest seizure during this period involved 25kg of ketamine worth HK$9.5 million (RM5.3 million).

From January to June this year, Hong Kong Customs recorded 220 drug-related arrests, involving the seizure of 4,104kg of drugs worth HK$1.488 billion (RM835 million). The suspects aged between 20 and 67 were arrested in various incidents across different years. In July, four arrests were made at Hong Kong International Airport, including a 19-year-old Malaysian man who was caught with 3kg of cannabis hidden in his checked-in luggage.

Other cases involved suspects arriving from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, with alleged cannabis and methamphetamine shipments. The Hong Kong Customs urged the public not to act as drug couriers or transporters of unknown substances, emphasizing that drug trafficking is punishable by life imprisonment under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

Intensified cooperation with Malaysian and other international law enforcement agencies aims to combat cross-border drug trafficking through risk assessment and intelligence-led strategies.