Hong Kong Customs seizes record 535kg cannabis shipment

Hong Kong Customs has seized 535 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds, valued at approximately HK$125 million, marking the city’s largest-ever seaborne cannabis trafficking seizure. The drugs were discovered inside a 40-foot container arriving from Thailand, which had been declared as containing insulated boxes.

During the inspection, officers found that 364 of the 1,342 boxes were significantly heavier than expected. The cannabis was vacuum-sealed to mask its odor. Notably, customs officials discovered multiple active GPS tracking devices hidden within the drug packages, suggesting the trafficking syndicate used them to monitor the shipment’s real-time location during transit and local logistics.

Following a 16-day controlled delivery operation, authorities arrested three men aged 21 to 47 in Mong Kok. The group included two local men and a Vietnamese national. While the local men were released on bail, the Vietnamese national has been charged with attempting to traffic in a dangerous drug.

Customs reported that cannabis seizures in Hong Kong have increased by 27% compared to the same period last year, with total interceptions reaching 2,875 kilograms through August.