14 minors among 120 people arrested in operation targeting online sale of drugs

Police seize 53.7kg of dangerous drugs and Part 1 poisons worth HK$26 million during month-long operation

Hong Kong police have arrested 120 people, including 14 minors, and seized substances worth HK$26 million (US$3.31 million) in a month-long operation targeting the sale of narcotics and related products online.

Chan Lik-ho, a senior inspector with the force’s narcotics bureau, said on Monday that 53.7kg (118lbs) of dangerous drugs and Part 1 poisons were seized during operation Amberflock, carried out from March 29 to April 25.

He said there were 74 cases involving 78 male and 42 female suspects aged between 12 and 69, including 14 under the age of 18.

“We noticed that some of the minors arrested within Amberflock were recruited by drug trafficking syndicates to act as couriers, whilst others possessed e-cigarette products containing liquid nicotine or etomidate capsules,” Chan said. “This situation is worrying.”

Officers raided three drug storage facilities in Tsim Sha Tsui, Tseung Kwan O and Tuen Mun on April 15, seizing 1.7kg of cannabis buds, 419 cannabis oil vape capsules, 420 grams of cannabis resin, 791 etomidate capsules and “large quantities” of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) products, he said.