Hong Kong police arrest man, seize HK$9.4 million worth of suspected ketamine in air purifier filters shipped from overseas
- Police confiscate two bags with 1.8kg of what appeared to be ketamine, cutting tools and large air purifier with 11 identical filters at subdivided flat
- ‘Upon inspection, another 19.8kg of suspected ketamine was found hidden in the 11 filters,’ inspector says
Hong Kong police have arrested an alleged drug trafficker and confiscated more than HK$9.4 million (US$1.2 million) worth of suspected ketamine hidden in air purifier filters that arrived in the city from overseas.
Senior Inspector Adam Tong Wai-kwok of the force’s narcotics bureau said on Thursday that the 21.6kg (47.6lbs) haul was discovered in a subdivided flat in a Kwai Chung industrial building.
Officers, acting on intelligence, intercepted the 26-year-old man when he left the flat on Wednesday afternoon.
Two bags with 1.8kg of what appeared to be ketamine, as well as cutting tools and cylindrical-shaped filter that had been slashed open, were found at the scene. A large air purifier containing 11 identical filters was also there.
“Upon inspection, another 19.8kg of suspected ketamine was found hidden in the 11 filters,” the senior inspector said, adding that the seized illegal substance had an estimated street value of more than HK$9.4 million.
Tong said preliminary investigations indicated that the air purifier was shipped to the city from overseas before it was delivered to the flat, where the drugs were taken out.
He said the operation prevented the batch from being circulated in the city’s underground market.
Police arrested the 26-year-old on suspicion of trafficking in a dangerous drug – an offence punishable by up to life in prison and a HK$5 million fine.
According to the force, investigations are still under way and further arrests have not been ruled out.
As of Thursday afternoon, the suspect was still being held for questioning.
Official figures showed seizures of the five major illegal drugs – cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine, heroin and ketamine – rose by 68 per cent to 13.29 tonnes last year from 7.9 tonnes in 2022.
