Hong Kong's customs officers seized 196 kg of ketamine with an estimated value of 23 million HK dollars at the Hong Kong International Airport last week, according to information from the HKSAR government website on Tuesday.

A 31-year-old local man was arrested for links with the case on Tuesday, who was later released on bail of 5,000 HK dollars, customs officers said.

If convicted, the man could face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of 5 million HK dollars.

Customs officers uncovered the 196 kg of drugs on July 11 in a cargo shipment from Bombay, India. Also found from the cartons were six packs of rice and five packs of sugar.

Initial investigation into the case found that the drugs were destined for Taiwan through transshipment. However, it cannot rule out the possibility that a small amount of the drugs would be smuggled back for local consumption.

Investigations are continuing, Hong Kong Customs said, adding that it has contacted enforcement agencies of India and Taiwan for further investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2009)