This photo shows the two bottles of personal care products confirmed to have contained a total of about 5g of cannabidiol. Customs officials seized the bottles from an incoming passenger on March 29, 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKSAR GOVT)

HONG KONG – A Hong Kong court on Friday sentenced an incoming passenger to two months’ imprisonment for possessing cannabidiol (CBD) and other drugs.

The 32-year-old female passenger arrived in Hong Kong from the United States on March 29. During customs clearance, two bottles of personal care products containing what officers suspected to be CBD were found in her luggage, the government said in a press release.

Officers also seized about 2.2g of suspected ketamine, concealed in a glass container, and 10 syringes they suspected were intended for the injection of a dangerous drug. The woman was subsequently arrested.

The Government Laboratory later confirmed a total of about 5g of CBD was contained in the two bottles, while the other substance seized was indeed ketamine.

The woman was sentenced by the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts after being convicted on two counts of possession of a dangerous drug and one of possession of equipment intended for the injection of a dangerous drug, in contravention of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

This photo shows a syringe containing a tiny amount of ketamine, and ketamine concealed in a glass container that were seized from a passenger coming to Hong Kong from the US on March 29, 2023. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKSAR GOVT)

Customs welcomed the sentence, which marks the first time an offender has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment since CBD was listed as a dangerous drug under the Ordinance on Feb 1.

Suspected drug trafficking activities should be reported online, via Customs' 24-hour hotline, on 2545 6182, or by email to its dedicated crime-reporting email account.