Hong Kong police seize HK$35 million worth of cannabis plants from village houses converted to indoor farms
- More than 1,700 plants found, weighing total of 120kg
- Officers arrest two Hongkongers and seize solar lights, soil, nutrient solution, dehumidifiers and gas stoves
Hong Kong police seized more than 1,700 cannabis plants on Monday during raids on two village houses that had been turned into indoor marijuana farms.
The plants, which weighed a total of 120kg and had an estimated street value of HK$35 million (US$4.5 million), were sized by the Narcotics Bureau in Lok Ma Chau and Pat Heung.
Officers arrested two Hongkongers, aged 36 and 37, during the operations. They also found solar lights, soil, nutrient solution, dehumidifiers and gas stoves, which they suspected had been used to cultivate the plants.
The bureau raided the house in Lok Ma Chau at noon, confiscating 630 marijuana plants and some related equipment. Meanwhile, they seized another 1,100 plants as well as cultivation equipment from the house in Ta Shek Wu in Pat Heung.
In May last year, Narcotics Bureau officers seized more than 2,000 cannabis plants and 24kg of herbal cannabis from two factory units in Tuen Mun and Yau Tong that had been turned into indoor marijuana farms.
This was the biggest seizure since at least 1990, and the haul had an estimated street value of HK$38 million.
Ten people were arrested during the operation.
