Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport
Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving an incoming air passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (February 24) and seized about 8 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $4.4 million.
The case involved a 62-year-old male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Johannesburg, South Africa, via Singapore yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected methamphetamine in his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Responses from University Grants Committee on 2026-27 Budget
The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
The 2026-27 Budget outlines financial measures related to higher education, including earmarking $10 billion for providing loans to University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities and universities of applied sciences for campus development in the Northern Metropolis University Town, as well as supporting on a matching basis, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in developing the third medical school.
The chairman of the UGC, Mr Tim Lui, said yesterday (February 25), "The UGC supported relevant measures. The Northern Metropolis University Town and the third medical school would not only provide development room for the whole post-secondary education sector to expand capacity and enhance quality, but would also serve as a key engine to advance the deeply integrated development of Hong Kong's academic excellence and industry. The UGC Secretariat will continue to support relevant work."
At the same time, with the advent of artificial intelligence, innovative and breakthrough technology in the new era, the UGC-funded universities are utilising resources effectively during the 2025-28 triennium, and introduced 27 undergraduate programmes relevant to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). The new programmes would foster innovation and technology (I&T), nurture more high calibre talent to support Hong Kong's development into an international I&T hub, and inject impetus into future development.
He added, "The UGC also appreciates the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's strong support to promote internationalisation of higher education, including the establishment of the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong and the organisation of 'Study in Hong Kong' Week. The Asia-Pacific Association for International Education 2026 Conference and Exhibition, currently underway, has received a very encouraging and overwhelming audience, attracting over 3 200 global education experts from more than 70 countries and regions. As a hub for attracting global talent and facilitating academic exchange, Hong Kong's international reputation and appeal would be further enhanced. The UGC will continue to work closely with each university to deepen international partnership, and will further enrich Hong Kong's diverse and vibrant higher education environment."
Source: AI-found images
