Hong Kong customs seizes HK$118 million of cannabis in fishing boat bust

Customs officers have seized cannabis worth more than HK$100 million (US$12.8 million) from a fishing boat in Hong Kong’s southern waters, marking the largest drugs bust involving such a vessel in a decade.

Officers on patrol spotted the boat south of Lamma Island on Tuesday morning, Wong Ngar-lun, divisional commander of customs’ marine strike and strategic planning section, revealed.

The worn-out vessel, with no fishing equipment on board, aroused suspicion and led to an interception, the Customs and Excise Department said on Wednesday.

The boat’s crew members refused to cooperate and began hurling goods into the sea.

Custom officers boarded the vessel and subdued three men, while recovering the bags of cannabis buds from the water.

The seized stock comprised 459kg (1,011lbs) of suspected cannabis, with an estimated street value of more than HK$118 million.