Hong Kong police arrest man, 18, and seize HK$10.7 million in heroin amid crackdown on triad group
- Police intercept man after he was seen acting suspiciously outside industrial building, find 693 grams of heroin and another 13.6kg at nearby unit
- ‘In this operation, police have successfully shut down this drug storage warehouse used by a local drug trafficking syndicate,’ force says
The force said on Wednesday that officers from the organised crime and triad bureau launched an investigation into the racket and placed an industrial building on Kut Shing Street in Chai Wan under surveillance.
Officers intercepted the man on Tuesday after he was seen acting suspiciously outside the building and seized 693 grams (24.4 ounces) of what appeared to be heroin in his possession, police said.
“In a follow-up raid on one of the units in the building, police seized another 13.6kg [29.9lbs] kilograms of suspected heroin along with suspected drug cutting agents and packaging equipment,” the force said.
According to police, the estimated street value of the seized narcotics was about HK$10.68 million.
The teenager was detained on suspicion of trafficking in a dangerous drug – an offence punishable by up to life in jail and a HK$5 million fine.
“In this operation, police have successfully shut down this drug storage warehouse used by a local drug trafficking syndicate,” the force said.
“Police will continue to investigate the origin of the narcotics and target the income sources of the triad gang.”
The investigation was still under way and further arrests were possible, according to police.
In 2023, police arrested 2,006 young people aged between 16 and 20 for various crimes, an increase of 12 per cent from 1,789 youths apprehended the year before.
Provisional figures show seizures of the five major illegal drugs – cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine, heroin and ketamine – rose by 68 per cent to 13.29 tonnes last year from 7.9 tonnes in 2022.
The amount of heroin seized by police and customs last year increased by 106 per cent to 675kg in 2023 from 327kg uncovered the year before.
