Police make largest cocaine bust in one year

Police on Sunday said they have arrested three people and seized suspected cocaine worth around HK$180 million in the largest bust of the drug in the past year. Officers said they raided two vessels in Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter on Friday, where they uncovered 241 kilos of cocaine. Two people were arrested. Officers also raided a residential flat in Aberdeen and arrested another suspect, confiscating various documents, cash, jewellery, watches and handbags worth more than HK$2 million. Officers believe the suspects – two men and one woman aged between 46 and 51 – were the mastermind and core members of a drug-trafficking syndicate. “We believe the drug-trafficking syndicate uses vessels moored along Hong Kong’s coastline as storage facilities for the narcotics,” chief inspector Lam Pak-kiu told reporters. “After they connect with local buyers, the drugs are then moved ashore and distributed into the Hong Kong market for sale.” Police said the trio will be charged with conspiracy to traffic in dangerous drug and trafficking in a dangerous drug and appear at Eastern Magistrates' Courts on Monday. Edited by Edmond Fong