HONG KONG, 26 Oct 26 — A 39-year-old foreigner was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport today after customs officers found 2.2kg of suspected cocaine worth HK$1.3 million (RM700,000) in his cabin baggage.

The suspect had arrived from Penang and was arrested during a customs inspection, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department said in a statement.

He was charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and was expected to appear before the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow.

The arrest is the second suspected drug-smuggling case involving travel from Penang to Hong Kong in a week. A 25-year-old foreigner was arrested last Thursday in a separate case.

Hong Kong Customs said it would step up efforts to combat drug trafficking through intelligence sharing and risk-based passenger screening.

Under Hong Kong’s Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking carries a maximum penalty of a HK$5 million fine and life imprisonment.