In a massive drug bust, Hong Kong customs officers have seized 500kg of cannabis buds with an estimated street value of HK$130 million (US$167 million). This bust, uncovered in a shipment of soybeans from Canada, has pushed the total amount of cannabis confiscated in 2024 to a staggering 2.6 tonnes. This marks an 80% increase in cannabis seizures compared to the same period last year.
The discovery, made on September 27, highlights the growing sophistication of drug trafficking networks and the vigilance of Hong Kong’s Customs and Excise Department. The cannabis was hidden within 83 sacks of soybeans in a sea shipment from Canada, with traffickers attempting to evade detection by using vacuum-sealed bags to suppress the drug’s odor and strategically placing the sacks at the bottom of the shipment.
Cannabis Trafficking in Hong Kong: A Growing Concern
This latest haul is part of a broader rise in drug seizures across Hong Kong. Assistant Superintendent Jacky Tsang Kin-bon of the customs’ drugs investigation bureau reported that the amount of cannabis seized this year had already surpassed the total found in 2023. Hong Kong authorities have been ramping up efforts to disrupt these criminal networks through intelligence sharing and advanced risk assessment strategies targeting air, sea, and land shipments.
The arrests include a 54-year-old man, who was apprehended when he arrived to collect the shipment, as well as a 44-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man who were arrested days later. All three are facing charges of trafficking in a dangerous drug, an offence punishable by up to life imprisonment and a HK$5 million fine.
Increasing Street Value of Cannabis
Interestingly, the seizure has also had ripple effects on Hong Kong’s underground cannabis market. A previous bust in February saw 570kg of cannabis buds confiscated from a Fanling warehouse, significantly disrupting supply chains. In fact, the price of cannabis on the black market has surged, rising to HK$270 per gram in July, up 30% from HK$200 per gram in March.
This spike in price reflects both the scarcity of supply following major seizures and the ongoing demand for the drug, despite its illegal status in Hong Kong.
Regional and International Cooperation
Customs authorities in Hong Kong have attributed their success to a robust network of international and regional cooperation. As Tsang pointed out, they are working closely with mainland China and overseas law enforcement agencies to combat the trafficking of illegal drugs. The continued collaboration is crucial in identifying and dismantling drug distribution networks, as investigations into the source of the cannabis and the criminals’ distribution networks are still ongoing.
Growing Cannabis Seizures Reflect Increased Smuggling Efforts
Seizures of cannabis have surged dramatically in 2024, with authorities confiscating over 3,021kg of the drug between January and July, marking a 108% increase from the 1,449kg seized in the same period last year. This trend highlights the increased efforts by smugglers to exploit Hong Kong’s busy trade routes while also reflecting the growing global cannabis market.
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