Hong Kong police arrest 99 in citywide drug trafficking crackdown
Operation involving 68 separate cases results in seizure of 220kg of narcotics worth HK$117 million, with suspects aged between 13 and 74
Hong Kong police have arrested 99 people, with the youngest being 13, in a citywide crackdown on drug trafficking this month, seizing 220kg (485lbs) of narcotics worth HK$117 million (US$15 million).
Senior Inspector Ho Ho-ting of the narcotics bureau said on Tuesday that a series of arrests had been made between April 20 and 26, concluding a citywide operation targeting drug trafficking via the internet and social media platforms
“We will continue to enforce the law with zero tolerance [towards drug trafficking], clamping down on all drug trafficking activities, including those taking place online and on social media,” Ho warned.
Among those arrested, 19 were under the age of 21, of which nine were students, while the oldest suspect was 74 years old.
The operation involved 68 drug-related cases and resulted in the seizure of six types of narcotics. These included 51kg of cocaine, 1kg of methamphetamine, 81kg of ketamine, 33kg of heroin, 669 cannabis plants, over 12kg of cannabis and 899 vials of cannabis oil.
Officers also discovered various forms of the drug “space oil”. Authorities recently banned key ingredients used to make the narcotic, such as etomidate.
The force confiscated about 1.1 litres (2.2 pints) of liquid etomidate, around 1kg of etomidate powder, and about 2,490 space oil capsules.