A 19-year-old Malaysian has been arrested at Hong Kong International Airport after authorities discovered around three kilograms of drugs hidden inside his checked luggage.
According to an official statement from the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, the teenager arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur via Singapore on 9 July, when customs officers selected him for routine inspection during clearance.
3kg of cannabis buds discovered in luggage
A search of his check-in baggage led to the discovery of approximately three kilograms of suspected cannabis buds, with an estimated street value of HKD 500,000 (~RM270,000). The teenager was arrested on the spot, and investigations into the case are ongoing.
Hong Kong Customs stated that it will continue to strengthen enforcement efforts against drug trafficking through intelligence analysis and a risk-assessment approach, particularly by screening passengers arriving from high-risk regions.
The department also reminded the public not to accept monetary offers to transport items across borders on behalf of others or to carry unknown belongings for third parties, stressing that trafficking dangerous drugs is a serious offence under Hong Kong’s Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.
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Those convicted of drug trafficking in Hong Kong face a maximum penalty of a HKD 5 million fine (~RM2.6 million) and life imprisonment.
PDRM confirms arrest of Sarawakian teenager
Meanwhile, Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan confirmed that the suspect is a 19-year-old Malaysian from Sarawak. He said Malaysian authorities were informed of the arrest by their Hong Kong counterparts.
Preliminary investigations suggest the teenager was allegedly recruited by a drug syndicate to act as a drug mule. Checks conducted by the police also revealed that he has no prior criminal record in Malaysia, Harian Metro reported.
The police, however, have not disclosed further details about how the suspected drugs were concealed or whether additional suspects are being sought. The investigation remains ongoing as Hong Kong authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the alleged trafficking attempt.
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