Customs officers arrested three drug traffickers, aged between 20 and 41, in a series of anti-drug operations in Tai Po and Mong Kok yesterday (August 8).
They seized 180 grams of heroin, 39 grams of cocaine, 35 grams of ketamine, and 153 tablets of Nimetazepam ("Erimin 5"), with retail value of about $110,000.
About 5.40pm, officers of the Customs Drug Investigation Bureau intercepted a 41-year-old man who was acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the Tai Wo KCR Station. After search, the officers found from a plastic bag carried by the man 260 pieces of straw segments. Inside the segments were 110 grams of heroin.
In follow up actions, officers found from two residential premises in Tai Po another 186 pieces of similar straw segments containing 70 grams of heroin and two small packets containing ten grams of cocaine.
Hong Kong Customs believed that the seized dangerous drugs were targeted for distribution in Tai Po.
The man, aged 41, was charged with two counts of trafficking in a dangerous drug, and one count of possession of a dangerous drug. He will appear before the Fanling Magistrates' Courts tomorrow morning (August 10).
In another operation conducted in Mong Kok, Customs officers intercepted a man, aged 24, in the staircases of a building in Tung Choy Street shortly before 9pm. About one gram of cocaine was found on him.
Officers further seized 28 grams of cocaine, 35 grams of ketamine and 153 tablets of "Erimin 5" on a residential premises in the same building where another 20-year-old man was also arrested.
Officers believed that the seized drugs were intended for the supply of entertainment venues in Mong Kok.
The two men were charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug. The 24-year-old man was further charged with one count of possession of a dangerous drug. Both men will appear in the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts tomorrow morning (August 10).
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department warned that drug trafficking is a serious offence. The maximum penalty for the offence of "trafficking in dangerous drugs" under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
Ends/Tuesday, August 9, 2005