Asylum seekers in Hong Kong used by syndicate for drug supply, police say after arrest of 2
- Force reveals syndicate’s alleged activities after arrest of two and seizure of HK$600,000 in drugs from subdivided flat in Yau Ma Tei
- Suspects said to be a couple, a 44-year-man and 36-year old woman, and holders of recognisance forms
A Hong Kong drug trafficking syndicate recruited asylum seekers to supply drugs in Kowloon’s entertainment venues in a bid to evade detection, police said on Thursday after the arrest of a couple and seizure of HK$600,000 (US$76,860) in illegal substances.
Inspector Ng Ka-wai of the Yau Tsim district special duties squad said the racket hired holders of recognisance forms because they “don’t have permanent residency or strong connections in Hong Kong, making it more difficult for police to gather information”.
People who make a non-refoulement claim in Hong Kong are issued with a recognisance form, a temporary identification document from the Immigration Department that allows holders to remain in the city but not to work.
Ng said the syndicate involved also concealed drugs in tea bags and pet food packages then sold them on to to frontline couriers for supply in entertainment venues.
Officers intercepted a 44-year-old man for a stop-and-search outside a subdivided flat on Parkes Street in Yau Ma Tei on Tuesday.
Police arrested the man after 14 tea bags containing 80 grams (3 ounces) of suspected cannabis buds were found on him.
Officers seized 1.5kg (3.3lbs) of marijuana products such as cannabidiol oil and cannabis candies, 40 grams of suspected crystal meth and 60 grams of what appeared to be cocaine along with packaging equipment in a later search of the suspect’s rented flat.
The man’s partner, 36, who entered the flat using a key as officers carried out their search, was also found to have three tea bags that contained suspected cannabis buds in her handbag and was also detained.
The inspector said the seized narcotics had an estimated street value of about HK$600,000 and were intended for entertainment venues in western Kowloon.
Ng said the two suspects were originally from Bangladesh.
He said preliminary investigations suggested the couple’s responsibilities included managing drug storage, breaking down the substances into smaller amounts, repackaging them and selling them on to couriers.
The two were detained on suspicion of trafficking in a dangerous drug – an offence punishable by up to life in prison and a HK$5 million fine.
They were still being held for questioning on Thursday morning.
The force said they did not rule out further arrests as the investigation into the origin of the drugs and members of the syndicate continued.
Figures show seizures of the five major illegal drugs – cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine, heroin and ketamine – went up by 68 per cent to 13.29 tonnes last year from the 7.9 tonnes recorded in 2022.
