Hong Kong Customs officers yesterday (January 11) foiled a precursor chemical smuggling attempt at Hong Kong Airport, and smashed a "crack" cocaine manufacturing centre in Tsuen Wan.
In the two operations, officers seized 3.6 kg of pseudoephedrine mixture, 1.1 kg of herbal cannabis, 90 gm of "crack" cocaine, and a batch of manufacturing and packing paraphernalia. The total seizure was worth about $220,000. They also arrested three local men, aged between 22 and 41.
In the first case, Customs investigators yesterday detained a 41-year-old male passenger at the Hong Kong International Airport about to depart for New Zealand with 52 packets of pseudoephedrine, weighing 3.6 kg. Customs investigations showed that the precursor chemical would be smuggled into New Zealand for illicit manufacturing of "ice". He has been bailed out pending further investigations.
After a two-week investigation, Customs officers yesterday mounted an operation in Tsuen Wan and found on a 22-year-old man a small quantity of "crack" cocaine. Officers subsequently forced open a flat inside a targeted building and smashed a drug manufacturing centre where "crack" cocaine was produced. Officers arrested another man, aged 27, inside the flat and seized 1.1 kg of herbal cannabis, 90 gm of "crack" cocaine together with a batch of manufacturing and packing paraphernalia.
The two men, aged 22 and 27, will be charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug and manufacturing a dangerous drug and will appear at Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (January 13).
Ends/Wednesday, January 12, 2005