ýÿHong Kong Customs yesterday (July 21) shut down a suspected ecstasy manufacturing centre and seized about 42 kilograms of assorted chemicals, about 4.3kg of suspected ecstasy, about 125 grams of suspected heroin, and a batch of drug manufacturing paraphernalia in Tai Kok Tsui. A man was arrested and the total estimated market value of the drug seizures amounted to about $1.1 million.

     During an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Tai Kok Tsui yesterday, Customs intercepted a man and brought him to a nearby premises for a search. Subsequently, Customs officers seized the batch of chemicals, suspected dangerous drugs and drug manufacturing paraphernalia. 

     The arrested man, aged 19, was charged with one count of manufacture of dangerous drug, one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of controlled chemicals for the unlawful production of dangerous drugs. He will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (July 23).

     According to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, the manufacture of a dangerous drug and trafficking in a dangerous drug are serious offences. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment. 

     In addition, according to Section 2A of the Control of Chemicals Ordinance (Cap. 145), no person shall have in his possession, manufacture, transport or distribution of any substance specified in Schedule 2 or 3, knowing or having reasonable grounds for believing that it is to be used in or for the unlawful production of a dangerous drug. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and 15 years of imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Ends/Monday, July 22, 2024
Issued at HKT 17:25

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