Hong Kong police intercept a record 1.3 TON haul of ketamine worth more than £100 million as traffickers attempt to offload it from speedboat

  • Hong Kong officials seized the record-breaking haul worth HK$840 million (£80million) on Friday 
  • This drug bust, which weighed in at 1.3 tons, is one of the biggest ever recorded in city history.
  • The police said that smugglers had taken to bulk shipping in order to circumvent Covid-19 travel restrictions
  • The arrests of three men from the local area and one man with Indian citizenship, who were aged between 32-47, was not surprising.










Hong Kong officials seized a huge record-breaking haul of ketamine worth more than £100million on Friday.

Officials found the drug in 1.3 tons, 48 bags. The amount was greater than what had been seized during the previous 11 months.

This haul was the biggest of its type in city history.  

Police say that Covid-19 restrictions on travel have made it more difficult for smugglers make bulk shipment.

Pictured: L-R: Hong Kong Police narcotics bureau's acting superintendent Cheung Cho-kin, chief superintendent Ng Wing-sze, and chief inspector Ip Sau-lan pose during a press conference yesterday on the drug haul

Pictured: L-R: Hong Kong Police narcotics bureau’s acting superintendent Cheung Cho-kin, chief superintendent Ng Wing-sze, and chief inspector Ip Sau-lan pose during a press conference yesterday on the drug haul

Smugglers send larger cargoes than drug mules that travel through airports.

Officers intercepted the haul on Friday morning as drugs were being trafficked in from the speedboat at the Lei Yue Mun seaside district. 

Chief Inspector Ip Sau-Ian said at a press conference yesterday: ‘Drug trafficking syndicates would use fishing boats or oceangoing vessels to transport the drugs to the high seas near Hong Kong waters. 

Pictured: Bags of seized evidence are displayed during a press conference on a record drug haul of 1.3 tonnes of ketamine worth 108 million USD at the police headquarters in Hong Kong on December 25, 2021

Pictured: A press conference was held to announce a record-breaking drug haul that included 1.3 tonnes of Ketamine, a total of 108 Million USD. It took place at Hong Kong’s police headquarters on December 25, 2021.

“Then, they will organize speedboats for smuggling the drugs to shore.”

A trio of men aged between 32 to 47 years old, and one Indian man were taken into custody.

The investigation continues and those arrested are still in custody.

The two suspects are being charged with drug trafficking and they will appear in court at Kwun Tong Magistrates Court.

 Police said they would not rule out further arrests.

According to them, traffickers would likely continue to sell drugs in large quantities if Hong Kong does not remove its travel restrictions related to the pandemic.  

The police seized 48 bags of ketamine, the amount of which exceeded the total seizure of the drug in the first 11 months of this year. Pictured: The drugs

48 bags of ketamine were confiscated by police. The amount was greater than all the seizures of the drug during the first eleven months of 2011. Pictures of the drugs

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