Hong Kong police seize HK$23 million of ketamine hidden in barrels mislabelled as raw cosmetics materials in latest major drug bust
- A 26-year-old man was arrested during the raid of a warehouse in a Kwun Tong industrial building; he now faces a potential life sentence
- The process needed for extracting the narcotics from the more than 100kg of powder produces strong chemical reactions and dangerous poisonous gases
In the latest in a series of major drug busts, Hong Kong police have seized HK$23 million (US$2.97 million) worth of ketamine mislabelled as cosmetic powder and arrested a suspected trafficker.
Officers acting on a tip-off made the seizure on Friday as they intercepted a 26-year-old man at a warehouse in a Kwun Tong industrial building, the force revealed on Sunday.
About 130kg of chemical powder was confiscated inside several barrels, 100kg of which was suspected to contain ketamine. Once processed, the contents could yield about 50kg of ketamine with an estimated street value of HK$23 million, according to the force.
“The powder – reported as cosmetic raw material and powder – was transported by air from Thailand,” said senior inspector Chan Chi-wa of the Narcotics Bureau. “The drug traffickers would pack drugs into the cosmetics containers as cover, then use large and well-known logistics companies to avoid detection.”
The man arrested for drug-trafficking faces a potential life sentence and a HK$5 million fine.
Chan said the seized drugs would have required further processing that involved a large number of chemical solvents and powders capable of producing heat, strong chemical reactions and highly dangerous poisonous gases.
Customs officers seize more than 30kg of drugs in year’s largest airport bust
The police urged logistic companies to be alert and immediately report any suspicious goods found.
HK$170 million of Ice, heroin and ketamine found hidden inside soft-drink bottles
Last month, Hong Kong police made their largest seizure of dangerous drugs this year, swooping on a factory building in Fanling, where a haul worth more than HK$170 million was hidden inside bottled drinks. A total of 178kg of heroin, Ice – or crystal methamphetamine – and ketamine concealed in 305 soft-drink bottles were seized in the operation.
On September 11, Hong Kong customs officers also made their largest seizure involving airborne drug shipments so far this year, bagging about HK$45 million worth of liquid cocaine, ketamine and methamphetamine, and arresting a man in the process.
