Two men arrested in anti-narcotics operation near Hong Kong’s Central Ferry Pier

Two Hong Kong men were in police custody on Thursday after being arrested in an anti-narcotics operation at the Central Ferry Pier.

Officers are investigating whether the two suspects, aged 41 and 51, were carrying out a drug deal inside a white Toyota when it was intercepted next to the pier on Man Kwong Street on Wednesday.

A police source said an initial investigation suggested the car had been used to deliver illegal drugs in the past.

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ID check leads to seizure of HK$7 million worth of heroin in Hong Kong flat

Detectives from Central district’s special duty squad deployed a sniffer dog to search the vehicle during the operation.

“Officers seized 37 grams of suspected ketamine and 37 grams of suspected cocaine in the car and from the [41-year-old] passenger. The haul has an estimated street value of HK$52,000 [US$6,648],” police said in a statement.

Officers arrested the driver and the passenger on suspicion of drug trafficking and possession of illegal narcotics. As of Thursday morning, the two men were still being held for questioning.

Trafficking in a dangerous drug is punishable by up to life imprisonment and a HK$5 million fine under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

The force said it had zero tolerance for drug-related activities and would make every effort to combat them.

Hong Kong saw seizures of five major illegal drugs – cocaine, cannabis, crystal meth, heroin and ketamine – more than double to 10,627kg last year.

Local authorities confiscated 3,296kg of ketamine in 2021, up nearly 600 per cent from 471kg in 2020. Seizures of cocaine also rose by 128 per cent to 2,895kg in 2021, up from 1,269kg the previous year.

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