Hong Kong police have arrested two men and seized more than HK$5 million (US$641,470) worth of narcotics in a raid on a flat recently converted into an illegal drug manufacturing and storage centre in the New Territories.
Senior Inspector Tong Wai-kwok of the force’s narcotics bureau on Wednesday said an investigation suggested the operation had only been running for about a week before the raid on the private housing estate in the Tsing Lung Tau area of Tuen Mun.
“We successfully intercepted the illegal drugs before they could be distributed,” Tong said.
Officers intercepted the two men, aged 20 and 22, when they left the flat on Monday night. The pair put up a struggle but were eventually overpowered and subdued, according to the force.
Tong said officers seized 3.6kg (7.9lbs) of crystal meth and 5.3 litres (1.4 gallons) of liquid meth in the flat’s kitchen, living room and one of the bedrooms.
He said the haul had an estimated street value of more than HK$5 million.
In addition to packaging equipment, officers also discovered bottles of hydrochloric acid and acetone that were believed to be used for turning liquid meth into crystal meth.
He said the force was investigating the source of the narcotics and their distribution network, with officers tracking down other members of a drug trafficking syndicate suspected to be involved.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the two suspects were being detained on suspicion of manufacturing and trafficking in a dangerous drug and obstructing police in the execution of their duties.
The senior inspector said the syndicate had converted the residential flat into a drug manufacturing and storage facility, which posed risks to public safety.
“The hydrochloric acid we found is a highly corrosive substance that carries the risk of exploding or catching fire during the heating and manufacturing processes,” Tong said.
He said officers detected a pungent and strong chemical odour during the raid, which could have also harmed residents.
Tong urged the public and security staff at housing estates to report any suspicious flats or strange odours by calling the police hotline on 2527 1234.
In Hong Kong, the manufacturing or trafficking in a dangerous drug is punishable by up to life in jail and a HK$5 million fine.
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