Source:
https://scmp.com/article/53430/43-m-heroin-seized-drug-ring-smashed

$4.3 m heroin seized as drug ring smashed

CUSTOMS officers believe they have smashed a medium-sized drug syndicate in Tuen Mun with the seizure of high-grade heroin worth $4.3 million on the street.

The 8.5 kilograms of No 4 heroin was found in a 20th floor flat of a residential building at Hoi Chu Road. A 39-year-old restaurant owner was arrested.

Head of Customs Drug Investigation Bureau, Lawrence Wong Sau-pui, said it was their second largest seizure this year and believed that it would have been for local consumption.

''It was a drug syndicate and believed to be a medium size. It had been established for about two months,'' he said.

He believed the heroin came from the Golden Triangle and was smuggled through China, before arriving in Hong Kong by sea and land.

Acting on a tip-off, about 30 customs officers laid an ambush at the Tuen Mun building on Wednesday.

At about 10.30 pm, the man was intercepted at the entrance of the car park.

Inside the apartment, customs officers seized a total of 8.5 kgs of No 4 heroin in 19 slabs and 59 polythene packets, 10 kgs of antipyrine, two kgs of caffeine and 350 tablets of flunitrazepam and a set of manufacturing and packing paraphernalia.

Mr Wong believed the drugs found were chemical additives used in diluting the heroin before distribution.

The officers raided a Kwai Chung flat in a follow-up search and seized $192,000 in cash.

So far this year, Customs officers have seized a total of 108 kgs of dangerous drugs. The largest haul was 10 kgs of No 4 heroin in February.

Customs have smashed seven manufacturing centres, 12 packing centres, 11 distributing centres and 14 opium divans this year.