Hong Kong Customs and Practice said recently that its airport office had intercepted 95 airmail packages containing 1,597 grams of marijuana between November 3 and November 8, with an estimated street value of HK$480,000 (US$61,538).

The pre-holiday season period is a busy time for Customs officials because drugs are in great demand and a lot of them arrive by airmail.

They said no one had claimed the packages yet and an investigation is under way.

This year Customs has intercepted 1,800 grams of marijuana, which could sell for about HK$540,000 (US$69,230) on the street. The authorities warned the public against supplying drugs of any kind to others a crime punishable by life imprisonment and a fine of HK$5million (US$641,000).

Wen Wei Po