Hong Kong customs seizes HK$36 million of ketamine shipped from the Netherlands

Hong Kong customs has seized 80kg (176lbs) of ketamine worth an estimated HK$36 million (US$4.6 million) concealed inside a truck engine shipped from the Netherlands.

The Customs and Excise Department said on Thursday that officers flagged a sea freight consignment arriving from the Netherlands on May 6, declared as containing 15 assorted items. The cargo was subsequently detained for inspection at a logistics warehouse in San Tin.

Upon opening the container on May 9, officers found a truck engine positioned near the front. Its worn appearance and clear signs of tampering, including dismantled and reassembled components, immediately raised suspicions and prompted a detailed examination.

X-ray scans of the engine revealed unusual images at its base. A thorough dismantling process then uncovered multiple packets of white crystalline substances, which were later confirmed to be ketamine.

Customs said that a controlled delivery operation was launched at the San Tin warehouse, leading to the arrest of two men on May 15.

The men, aged 32 and 45, claimed to be a driver and a person in charge of a warehouse, with the older man claiming they were temporarily handling the goods on behalf of the consignee.