Hong Kong Customs and Excise issued a notice last week to the local offices of commercial airlines, asking flight attendants to take note of anyone onboard who does not eat or drink on the flight and report them to authorities on the ground before landing, as those travellers could be drug traffickers.

The move came after the law enforcement agency uncovered the largest ever case of drugs being trafficked via human bodies last week in Hong Kong.

Fifteen people from African countries were arrested after authorities found dozens of small plastic packets containing illegal drugs such as heroin in their faeces.

Flight crews have been told to alert customs officials on the ground as soon as possible if they notice a traveller refraining from eating or drinking during the flight, or if they find suspicious plastic capsules in the toilets.

Oriental Daily News