Woman arrested over bringing ‘space oil’ into Hong Kong after drug relisting
Customs officers discover vape pen suspected to contain space oil as woman underwent clearance at Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan
Hong Kong customs officers have arrested a woman for allegedly possessing “space oil” when she arrived in the city, the first such case since some of the emerging narcotic’s main ingredients were officially classified as dangerous drugs by authorities.
The Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department said on Sunday that it had arrested a 28-year-old woman travelling to Hong Kong from Macau the day before.
Officers discovered a vape pen suspected to contain space oil when she underwent customs clearance at the Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan. The woman was subsequently arrested.
Customs said that the woman had claimed to be unemployed, and was released on bail pending further investigation.
“Customs will continue to step up the enforcement and combat the trafficking of the ‘space oil drug’,” the department said.
On Friday, authorities listed several key components used to make the space oil, including its main ingredient etomidate, in the first schedule of the Dangerous Drug Ordinance – putting them in the same category as cocaine.
Etomidate was previously classified as a Part 1 Poison.