Anti-drug police uncovered and raided a “drug store house” near the territory’s border with the mainland, seizing suspected crack cocaine worth some HK$1.3 million (US$165,800) and arresting two suspects.
According to Headline Daily, officers from Kowloon East Region’s special duty squash descended on the property in Lok Ma Chau last night, netting about 1.1kg of the drug from the village house.
They also busted two suspected drug traffickers — a 23-year-old man surnamed Lam and 28-year-old woman surnamed Jong — who were arrested during the raid.
The house, located close to the Lok Ma Chau immigration control point, was identified as a drug storehouse by investigating officers.
According to the SCMP, the seized drugs were destined for entertainment venues in the Kowloon East region.
The outlet also reported a separate drug related arrest which also took place yesterday.
It involved a taxi driver who was found with about HK$250,000 (US$32,000) worth of crack cocaine after being intercepted by officers about 9pm in Mong Kok.
Trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a HK$5 million (US$638,000) fine under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.
According to police statistics, serious drug offenses were down in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2017 — from 836 to 732.
However, the SCMP reported authorities seized 355kg of cocaine across the city in the first six months of this year, a 97.2 per cent rise from 180kg in the same period last year.
As for drug users, a recent report by the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) suggested the overall number of “drug abusers” had dropped also in the first six months of 2018.
Heroin remained the most common type of drug abused among all reported cases, while methamphetamine, commonly known as “Ice”, continued to be the most common type of psychotropic substance abused.
Use of cocaine and cannabis increased, according to the review.
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