Customs Drugs Investigation Bureau yesterday (January 3) smashed a dangerous drugs syndicate suspected of running two greenhouses for planting cannabis buds at a residential unit in Tin Shui Wai and a hut in Pat Heung.
Apart from seizing 383 pots of cannabis buds plants, ten kilograms of herbal cannabis, and three kilograms of ketamine, worth about $6 million in the market, the officers arrested two men, aged 34 and 37 respectively.
Customs officers estimated that the cannabis buds plants could produce ten kilograms of cannabis buds.
They believed the seized dangerous drugs were intended for distribution to entertainment venues in West Kowloon.
About 4pm yesterday, Customs officers intercepted a Hong Kong man, aged 37, outside a residential premises at Tin Shui Wai and found one kilogram of ketamine. After searching his residence, Customs officers found 26 pots of cannabis plant seedlings and two kilograms of ketamine.
Meanwhile, Customs officers smashed another greenhouse used for cultivating cannabis buds in a village hut at Tin Sam Cheung Po Village, Pat Heung and seized 357 pots of cannabis plants, ten kilograms of herbal cannabis and a batch of solar lamps and some planting tools. A 34-year-old man was arrested.
The arrested persons will be charged with "cultivating cannabis plant" and "trafficking in a dangerous drug". They will appear in Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (January 5).
Customs will closely monitor the drug trafficking situation prior to the Lunar New Year and step up enforcement to combat dangerous drugs activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking is a serious offence with maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of HK$5 million.
Ends/Thursday, January 4, 2007
