Drug cases rise 8%

Delivering the department's year-end review today, Commissioner of Customs & Excise Richard Yuen said enhanced enforcement at boundary checkpoints in the last two years has helped deter drug trafficking and abuse.

The largest drug seizure was ketamine at 380kg, the largest amount in five years. The second largest was cannabis at 70kg.

The department detected 224 smuggling cases, up 3%. Goods worth $420 million in total were seized with 252 people arrested.

"The goods smuggled out of Hong Kong were mostly of high-value, such as computers and related accessories, electrical appliances and electronic products, fur and seafood, whereas those smuggled into Hong Kong were mainly illicit cigarettes and copyright infringing articles," Mr Yuen said.