By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-11-27 08:01:20 | Updated at 2024-11-27 10:33:24
2 hours ago
A Hong Kong primary school teacher is among seven people arrested by customs officers in a crackdown on the illegal import and distribution of the newly emerging drug “space oil”, with the seizure of anaesthetic that could produce HK$17 million (US$2.2 million) worth of the narcotic.
Assistant Superintendent Ho Tin-hong of customs’ airport cargo unit revealed on Wednesday that their drug detection devices recently included the anaesthetic etomidate, a raw material used to produce space oil capsules, into the equipment’s database to help identify the narcotic at various checkpoints.
He said the handheld devices helped frontline officers at the airport to discover around 16kg (35lbs) of powdered etomidate from eight parcels from India on November 10, 11 and 17.
“We believe the haul was intended for an underground production centre, with the seized drug enough to produce more than 48,000 space oil capsules that have an estimated street value of HK$17 million,” Ho said.
According to the Customs and Excise Department, the eight parcels were sent out from two different consignors in India.
Ho said it was unusual for such products to be destined for residential addresses, and X-ray scans showed suspicious images.
