THE hunt for one of the world's top drug dealers, known as the ''Ice Queen'', has widened, with police believing she has slipped out of Canada.
Hongkong resident Ms Lee Chau-ping is alleged to be the mastermind behind the world's largest ''ice'' production syndicate, which in three years manufactured more than four tonnes of the drug.
After three years heading the multi-million-dollar ice empire, she is broke and on the run following an international police operation in which more than 50 people have been arrested.
Hongkong detectives have restrained millions of dollars worth of assets belonging to Ms Lee since she left the territory last May, including property worth $20 million and $4.2 million in cash.
In China, detectives have raided at least seven processing plants and seized drug-manufacturing equipment and more than $500,000 in cash.
Meanwhile, Canadian officials are in the process of restraining two properties in Vancouver, several cars and other assets worth an estimated C$1 million (HK$6.2 million).
Chief Inspector Sandy Boucher, of the Narcotics Bureau, said Ms Lee and six other Hongkong people were being sought.
