In this file photo dated June 30, 2021, signage is seen displayed outside the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department headquarters building in Hong Kong. (PHOTO / AFP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong Customs detected on Wednesday a suspected money laundering case involving about HK$48 million ($6.14 million) in drug trafficking proceeds.

The case was discovered during a follow-up investigation into the seizure of about $5 million worth of illegal drugs in April that led to the arrest of a 24-year-old suspect.

Customs arrested a 25-year-old man in Tuen Mun on Oct 10 for money laundering and raided his home in Tuen Mun, where a mobile phone was confiscated

An investigation into his numerous transactions involving his personal bank accounts and those of another man between January 2021 and April 2023 showed that they could be drug trafficking proceeds.

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Upon further investigation, Customs arrested a 25-year-old man on Tuesday for money laundering and raided his home in Tuen Mun, where a mobile phone was confiscated.

On Wednesday, Customs officers again arrested the 24-year-old man, who has been remanded due to the drug trafficking case. The 25-year-old suspect was released on bail pending investigation.

Customs reminded the public that those convicted of money laundering face a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment and a fine of HK$5 million.

Illegal drugs worth HK$20.4m

Meanwhile, Customs seized a total of 86 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds and a small quantity of suspected cocaine and ketamine, with an estimated market value of about HK$20.4 million.  

Three men were arrested during the anti-narcotics operation that lasted from Aug 18 to Oct 5, resulting in the detection of two drug cases.  

Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds worth HK$18 million seized at the  Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound in south China's Hong Kong on Oct 5, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

In the first case, Customs inspected on Oct 5 a seaborne consignment, declared as carrying household goods and arriving in Hong Kong from Canada, at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound and found the suspected cannabis buds, weighing about 76 kg, worth about HK$18 million.

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Officers conducted a series of controlled delivers and arrested the three male suspects aged between 32 to 40 years old. One of them had a small amount of suspected cocaine and ketamine.

In the second case, Customs inspected on Aug 18 an express parcel which was declared as carrying machinery spares from South Africa. The parcel had about 10 kg of suspected cannabis buds worth about HK$2.4 million, Customs said.