Hong Kong man, 30, investigated over drugs delivery in Repulse Bay after arrest uncovers HK$400,000 worth of narcotics in van
- Haul includes 2kg of what appeared to be cannabis, 16 boxes of suspected cannabis-infused candy and 38 bottles of suspected hemp oil
- Suspect arrested after being pulled over at a roadblock near the luxury neighbourhood on Tuesday night
The drugs seized in the vehicle included 2kg (4.4lbs) of what appeared to be cannabis, 16 boxes of suspected cannabis-infused candy and 38 bottles of suspected hemp oil, the force said on Wednesday.
The arrest was made after officers from the Hong Kong Island emergency unit intercepted the white van at a roadblock at the junction of Repulse Bay Road and Belleview Drive at around 10.30pm on Tuesday.
Police said the haul had an estimated street value of HK$400,000. The driver was detained on suspicion of drug trafficking and driving under the influence of drugs.
The man was still being held for questioning as of Wednesday morning.
In a separate case, officers, acting on a tip-off, intercepted a 28-year-old man in the Chuk Yuen area in Wong Tai Sin at about 10pm on Tuesday.
Officers found HK$75,000 worth of narcotics in his black delivery van parked nearby. Police said the illegal drugs included 22 grams (0.78 oz) of suspected cocaine and 92 grams of ketamine.
Police arrested the man on suspicion of trafficking in a dangerous drug – an offence punishable by up to life in prison and a HK$5 million fine.
Figures show the seizure of five major illegal drugs in the city – cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine, heroin and ketamine – surged by two-thirds to 3,712kg in the first five months of this year from 2,227kg in the same period in 2022.
Seizures of cannabis increased by more than 180 per cent to 658kg between January and May, from 232kg in the same period last year.
