Hong Kong police seize HK$23 million of ketamine hidden in barrels mislabelled as raw cosmetics materials in latest major drug bust
- A 26-year-old man was arrested during the raid of a warehouse in a Kwun Tong industrial building; he now faces a potential life sentence
- The process needed for extracting the narcotics from the more than 100kg of powder produces strong chemical reactions and dangerous poisonous gases
In the latest in a series of major drug busts, Hong Kong police have seized HK$23 million (US$2.97 million) worth of ketamine mislabelled as cosmetic powder and arrested a suspected trafficker.
Officers acting on a tip-off made the seizure on Friday as they intercepted a 26-year-old man at a warehouse in a Kwun Tong industrial building, the force revealed on Sunday.
About 130kg of chemical powder was confiscated inside several barrels, 100kg of which was suspected to contain ketamine. Once processed, the contents could yield about 50kg of ketamine with an estimated street value of HK$23 million, according to the force.
“The powder – reported as cosmetic raw material and powder – was transported by air from Thailand,” said senior inspector Chan Chi-wa of the Narcotics Bureau. “The drug traffickers would pack drugs into the cosmetics containers as cover, then use large and well-known logistics companies to avoid detection.”
The man arrested for drug-trafficking faces a potential life sentence and a HK$5 million fine.