Hong Kong police seize HK$10 million worth of cannabis, arrest suspected dealer in drugs raid on industrial building
- Officers acting on intelligence raid an industrial unit in Kwai Chung to seize 44kg of cannabis
- Man, 30, arrested on suspicion of trafficking in a dangerous drug
Hong Kong police arrested a suspected drug trafficker and seized nearly HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) worth of cannabis when they raided an industrial building on Thursday night.
Detectives believed the Kwai Cheong Road unit in Kwai Chung had been used as a base for storing and distributing drugs for at least a month.
Chief Inspector Hon Shing-ho, of police’s Kowloon East crime unit, said the premises were located after receiving intelligence.
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Officers intercepted a 30-year-old man in a public corridor of the building at about 8pm on Thursday, finding about 12 grams of cannabis buds on the suspect.
“Officers raided the flat and seized 77 bags carrying about 44kg of cannabis buds along with packaging equipment,” Hon said. He said the haul had an estimated street value of nearly HK$10 million.
He added that he believed the drugs were intended for sale online or by telephone. The suspect was responsible for packaging and distributing the illegal substance for financial gain, Hon added.
The chief inspector said police were still investigating the source of the drugs, with further arrests possible.
Police arrested the man on suspicion of trafficking in a dangerous drug – an offence that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a HK$5 million fine.
As of midday on Friday, the suspect was still being held for questioning and had not been charged.
Between January and October of 2020, police handled 886 reports of serious drug offences, up 29.5 per cent from 684 in the same period of 2019.
