Hong Kong customs arrests 62, seizes HK$431 million of drugs in joint operation
Large-scale crackdown with cross-border and global agencies busts syndicates smuggling drugs through airport passenger and cargo channels
Hong Kong customs has arrested 62 people and seized about 1.4 tonnes of suspected drugs worth roughly HK$431 million (US$55.27 million) in a major crackdown at the city’s airport, carried out with mainland Chinese and overseas authorities.
The Customs and Excise Department said on Wednesday that a months-long operation conducted from October to December targeted criminals smuggling drugs through passenger and cargo channels at Hong Kong International Airport.
Officers uncovered syndicates concealing drugs within hidden layers of items such as frozen food and wrapped gifts tucked inside parcels.
The department added that syndicates also attempted to disguise their activities by using consolidated shipping and purchasing agent companies to evade detection.
In 2025, customs confiscated around 7.5 tonnes of drugs, about 70 per cent of which were seized at the airport.
Wong Ngar-lun, group head of airport investigation at the Customs and Excise Department, said this showed how drug syndicates have increasingly used aviation channels as their main route to smuggle narcotics into Hong Kong.