HONG KONG, June 25 -- Hong Kong customs officers arrested an outgoing passenger at Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday and seized about 2.3 km of suspected "ice" worth about 940,000 HK dollars (about 121,000 U.S. dollars), the customs said here on Wednesday.

The 78-year-old man was about to depart for Melbourne when officers found the methamphetamine concealed in false compartments of seven handbags inside his suitcase.

He will be charged with drug trafficking and will appear at Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts Thursday.

A drug trafficking conviction carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a 5 million HK dollars' fine.