A Ghanaian man is set to appear in a Hong Kong court on Thursday after customs officials seized from him a speed-post parcel containing 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of a substance believed to be marijuana, the government said.

Customs officers arrested the 24-year-old man and another 25-year-old man from Ghana on Tuesday, after seizing a parcel of suspected marijuana from Ghana during an X-ray inspection at the airport's mail center.

The apparent drug shipment was estimated to be worth 170,000 Hong Kong dollars (US$21,795; ?7,820).

The suspect will be charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug, but the second man has been released, the government said.

If convicted, the faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of HK$5 million (US$640,000; ?480,000).