3 arrested as Hong Kong customs busts HK$52 million worth of cannabis buds hidden in car tyres in shipment from Canada

“Based on these two factors, we selected the container for inspection,” he said, “An X-ray examination of the tyres showed suspicious images.

“After removing the wrappings of the tyres, bags of suspected cannabis products were discovered hidden in the hollow centre of some of them.”

Hong Kong police seize 28 packets of cannabis sweets in HK$10 million haul

He said samples also tested positive for cannabis.

Edison Yeung said 228kg of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated value of HK$52 million were found in 73 tyres.

A 65-year-old driver who came to collect the container was arrested at the Tsing Yi Customhouse on November 21.

Customs officers raided the Yuen Long office of a logistics company on the same day and apprehended its 58-year-old male owner.

The consignee did not turn up to pick up the cargo but instructed others to move the container around different warehouses in the New Territories, in a bid to avoid detection, according to Vincent Yeung.

He said the container was kept under round-the-clock surveillance until December 6, when a 47-year-old driver turned up to pick up the container in Yuen Long. The driver was then arrested.

3 arrested as Hong Kong police swoop on 2 marijuana farms in industrial units

The three men have been released on bail pending further investigation. In Hong Kong, trafficking in a dangerous drug is an offence punishable by up to life in jail and a HK$5 million fine.

Hong Kong Customs said the investigation was still under way and did not rule out further arrests.