Two arrested over HK$46m drugs bust

Customs officers have seized more than 100 kilos of drugs in a series of operations in the past week and arrested two people. The items have an estimated market value of about HK$46 million. Last Friday, officers inspected an air cargo consignment arriving at the airport from the Netherlands which was declared as water-based primer paint. X-ray screening showed around 100 kilos of suspected ketamine concealed in a batch of paint cans. Following up on their discovery, officers conducted a controlled-delivery operation in Kwun Tong on Monday. Two local men, aged 28 and 63, were arrested. In another operation in Yuen Long a day later, authorities found 3.5 kilos of suspected etomidate in a parcel bound for Malaysia. "Traffickers continue to use cargo and parcel as channels with various concealment methods," said Leung Man-chung, senior investigator of Airport Investigation Group of Customs Drug Investigation Bureau. "Customs will strengthen intelligence-led enforcement and cooperation with overseas counterparts," he added. Officers have not ruled out further arrests. Edited by Edmond Fong