Fourteen Malaysians were arrested by Hong Kong Customs for alleged drug smuggling offences in the first six months of 2026, with suspects aged between 20 and 67.
Although the figure is relatively small, authorities stressed the seriousness of bringing controlled drugs into Hong Kong. The largest seizure linked to the period involved 25kg of ketamine, estimated to be worth HK$9.5 million (RM5.3 million).
Hong Kong Customs told BH that 24 Malaysians were arrested throughout 2025, compared with six in 2024 and eight in 2023.
The agency also highlighted several recent cases involving Malaysians. On July 9, a 19-year-old Malaysian man was arrested after allegedly carrying about 3kg of cannabis hidden in checked luggage after arriving from Kuala Lumpur via Singapore.
Another 19-year-old Malaysian man was arrested on July 16 after allegedly carrying about 11kg of cannabis flowers worth HK$2 million (RM1.1 million) in his checked luggage. He had travelled from Bangkok via Manila.
On July 21, two Malaysian men, aged 22 and 27, were separately arrested after allegedly carrying about 7kg of methamphetamine concealed in drink packets inside their checked luggage after arriving from Bangkok. Each seizure was estimated to be worth HK$3.5 million (RM2 million).
More recently, a 33-year-old Malaysian woman was arrested on Sept 12 after she was allegedly found attempting to smuggle 8kg of cannabis buds worth HK$1.6 million (RM830,000) into Hong Kong. She had arrived from Bangkok and was detained during a customs inspection.
Hong Kong Customs urged travellers not to act as drug mules or carry goods for others without knowing what they contain. Under Hong Kong’s Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking carries a maximum fine of HK$5 million (RM2.8 million) and life imprisonment upon conviction.
The agency said it continues to work with enforcement and customs authorities in countries including Malaysia through intelligence sharing and joint enforcement efforts to combat cross-border drug trafficking.
Hong Kong Customs recorded 220 drug-related arrests between January and June 2026, involving 4,104kg of drugs worth HK$1.488 billion (RM835 million). In 2025, there were 416 arrests involving 7,523kg of drugs worth HK$2.932 billion, compared with 365 arrests and 6,296kg of drugs worth HK$2.626 billion in 2024.
