Hong Kong police have arrested an alleged drug trafficker and confiscated greater than HK$9.4 million (US$1.2 million) price of suspected ketamine hidden in air air purifier filters that arrived within the metropolis from abroad.
Senior Inspector Adam Tong Wai-kwok of the power’s narcotics bureau mentioned on Thursday that the 21.6kg (47.6lbs) haul was found in a subdivided flat in a Kwai Chung industrial constructing.
Officers, appearing on intelligence, intercepted the 26-year-old man when he left the flat on Wednesday afternoon.
Two luggage with 1.8kg of what gave the impression to be ketamine, in addition to reducing instruments and cylindrical-shaped filter that had been slashed open, had been discovered on the scene. A big air air purifier containing 11 similar filters was additionally there.
“Upon inspection, one other 19.8kg of suspected ketamine was discovered hidden within the 11 filters,” the senior inspector mentioned, including that the seized unlawful substance had an estimated road worth of greater than HK$9.4 million.
Tong mentioned preliminary investigations indicated that the air air purifier was shipped to town from abroad earlier than it was delivered to the flat, the place the medication had been taken out.
He mentioned the operation prevented the batch from being circulated within the metropolis’s underground market.
Police arrested the 26-year-old on suspicion of trafficking in a harmful drug – an offence punishable by as much as life in jail and a HK$5 million high-quality.
In accordance with the power, investigations are nonetheless below means and additional arrests haven’t been dominated out.
As of Thursday afternoon, the suspect was nonetheless being held for questioning.
Official figures confirmed seizures of the 5 main unlawful medication – cocaine, hashish, methamphetamine, heroin and ketamine – rose by 68 per cent to 13.29 tonnes final 12 months from 7.9 tonnes in 2022.