# Customs Frontline

Customs Frontline (Chinese: 海關戰線), previously known as War Customised, is a 2024 Hong Kong action film directed and co-written by Herman Yau and starring Jacky Cheung, Nicholas Tse, Karena Lam, Cya Liu, with Francis Ng making a special appearance. Tse also served as the film's action director alongside Alan Ng. The film revolves around the Customs and Excise Department of Hong Kong.
Production for Customs Frontline began on 30 March 2022 and ended on 20 June 2022. The film made its world premiere as the closing film for Far East Film Festival 26 on 2 May 2024 before its theatrical release in Hong Kong on 5 July 2024.

## Plot

Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department officer Chow Ching-lai (Nicholas Tse) is a principled man who can also be difficult to work with. Luckily, with the guidance of his superior and mentor Cheung Wan-nam (Jacky Cheung), Ching-lai is able to find success in his career.
During a patrol, Wan-nam, Ching-lai and the rest of their team encounter an unmanned cargo ship that is hiding a batch of lethal weaponry. Upon investigation, they were suspected to be missing weapons that were stolen in Thailand. Ying (Cya Liu) and Mark, two Thai special agents who have been tracking black market arms dealer Dr. Raw, come to Hong Kong to assist in the investigation. Dr. Raw is extremely reclusive, but she is infamous for her ruthlessness and extensive network. She holds a wide array of weapons - ranging from a typical handgun to drones and even submarines.
Dr. Raw sends her men to ambush a Hong Kong Customs warehouse for her seized weapons. The sudden attack ends with the mercenaries stealing the weapons and many customs agents dead, including Ching-lai's ex-girlfriend, Katie. Ching-lai considers resigning out of guilt, but Wan-nam convinces him to stay and takes the blame for the attack: Wan-nam appears to be in total control, but he is hiding an immense amount of stress from everyone as he struggles to cope with his bipolar disorder, including his girlfriend, customs assistant commissioner Athena Siu.
Interpol launches a joint operation to find the stolen weapons. As part of the operation, Ching-lai and Ying travel to the heart of the illegal arms trade to help catch Dr. Raw once and for all. There, the two discover that Hong Kong shipping company KCS is linked to Dr. Raw's operation. Just as Ying and Ching-lai are about to track down one of Dr. Raw's major buyers, Wan-nam makes a drastic decision that complicates the investigation even further.

## Cast

* Jacky Cheung as Cheung Wan-nam (張允南), a senior superintendent of the Customs and Excise Department (Hong Kong) who suffers from Bipolar disorder.
* Nicholas Tse as Chow Ching-lai (周正禮), an assistant superintendent of the Customs and Excise Department.
* Karena Lam as Athena Siu (邵雅瑩), the assistant commissioner of Customs and Excise (intelligence and investigation) and Cheung 's girlfriend.
* Cya Liu as Ying (阿盈), a Thai-Chinese intelligence officer.
* Francis Ng as Kwok Chi-keung (郭子強), the assistant commissioner of Customs and Excise (boundary and ports) and Cheung's superior officer who often berates him. (special appearance)
* Michelle Yim as Mrs. Kam (甘太), Kam Wing's wife and Kam Lok-man's mother.
* Kenny Kwan as Lee Hok-pan (李學斌,) a Customs officer who is not fond of Chow.
* Ben Yuen as Au (區經理), the Kam family's butler.
* Carlos Chan as Kam Lok-man (甘樂文), Kam Wing's son who becomes a critical witness for the Customs and Excise Department.
* Michelle Wai as Katie, a customs officer and Chow's ex-girlfriend.
* Melvin Wong as Kam Wong (甘榮), CEO of KCS company who colludes with Dr. Raw to smuggle goods into Hong Kong which unbeknownst to him, turn out to be firearms.
* Shek Sau as Chan Wing-kan (陳永勤), the deputy commissioner of the Customs and Excise Department.
* Amanda Strang as Dr Raw, a notorious arms dealer and smuggler.
* Brahim Chab as Leo, a firearms smuggler.
* Angus Yeung as a Customs officer.
* James Kazama
* Polly Lau
* Chu Tin
* Kenneth Lai
* Jordan Merna
* Payne Roberts
* Guillaume Losguardi

## Production

News for the film first appeared on 20 February 2022 where it was announced that Herman Yau would be directing a film revolving around the Hong Kong Customs Department and is set to star Nicholas Tse and Cya Liu, with Tse also working as action director for the first time in the film. Tse's manager, Mani Fok confirmed the news and stated the film was in pre-production. The film was originally set to began production on 3 March 2022, but due to crew members testing positive for COVID-19, production commencement was postponed to three weeks later. On 21 March 2022, production company Emperor Motion Pictures promoted the film at the virtual Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) and unveiled additional cast members including Jacky Cheung, Karena Lam and Francis Ng, who will be making a special appearance.
Principal photography for Customs Frontline began on 30 March 2022, where filming of an interior scene with Tse and Liu took place. On 6 April 2022, the film held its production commencement ceremony hosted by Emperor Motion Pictures chairman and executive producer Albert Yeung and attended by the cast and crew. The same day, filming of a warehouse raiding scene involving Cheung and Tse took place in Lau Fau Shan.
Production for Customs Frontline officially wrapped up on 20 June 2022, where a special banquet hosted by Yeung was held to congratulate the cast and crew for the film's completion.

## Release

Customs Frontline made its world premiere as the closing film for Far East Film Festival 26 on 2 May 2024. The film was scheduled to be theatrically released in Hong Kong on 5 July 2024.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
| 2025 | 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Visual Effects | Wong Sum-yin, Lin Chun-yue Jules, Loki Ho, Yee Kwok-leung | Pending | |