Teen arrested in Hong Kong after dad calls police over ‘space oil’ possession

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested after his father told police he suspected his son had the dangerous drug known as “space oil” in their Hong Kong flat.

The 50-year-old father called officers to the home at So Uk Estate in Cheung Sha Wan on Sunday evening, police said.

Officers arrived at the residence and discovered 26 vape cartridges suspected to contain etomidate, along with an e-cigarette heating device in the teenager’s room, according to the force.

Etomidate, an anaesthetic classified as a dangerous drug in February, is often packaged in e-cigarette capsules.

The suspected drugs were estimated to have a street value of about HK$8,300 (US$1,062), police said.

The son was arrested on suspicion of possessing dangerous drugs and was currently being detained for further investigation.