Unlicensed driver arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking after being stopped at Hong Kong police roadblock
- Driver, 25, detained on suspicion of trafficking in a dangerous drug, driving under the influence of narcotics, and driving without a licence and third-party insurance
- Car intercepted by police in Kowloon Bay shortly before 12.30am on Monday
The 25-year-old man was detained on suspicion of trafficking in a dangerous drug, driving under the influence of narcotics, and driving without a licence and third-party insurance, according to the force.
His car was intercepted for inspection on Fuk To Street near the junction with Kwun Tong Road in Kowloon Bay shortly before 12.30am on Monday.
“Officers found three small bags carrying 1.5 grams of suspected cocaine in total on the driver and also seized another 14 bags carrying 6.8 grams of suspected cocaine,” police said.
The force said the drugs had an estimated street value of HK$14,000 (US$1,786).
The man tested negative for alcohol on a breathalyser but failed a roadside assessment to determine whether he was driving under the influence of drugs.
As of midday, the suspect was still being held for questioning. Officers from the East Kowloon traffic unit are handling the case.
In a separate case, police arrested a 21-year-old man after seizing HK$280,000 worth of illegal drugs in his Tsing King Road flat in Tsing Yi at about 11pm on Sunday.
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The force said officers seized 63 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 313 grams of suspected ketamine and 81 grams of suspected cannabis.
In Hong Kong, the maximum punishment for drug trafficking is life in jail and a HK$5 million fine.
In the first nine months of this year, authorities seized 492kg of cocaine, down 62.7 per cent from 1,320kg in the same period last year.
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Divisional commander Jeff Lau Leung-chi of customs’ drug investigation bureau said in a press briefing last week the seized cocaine was believed to be for local consumption, with gangs stockpiling large quantities for sale during the Christmas holidays.
Between January and September this year, seizures of the five major illegal drugs in the city – cocaine, cannabis, crystal meth, heroin and ketamine – dropped by 58.5 per cent to 4.4 tonnes from nearly seven tonnes logged in the same period last year.
