Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected “space oil drug” worth about $3.2 million at airport (with photo)
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Hong Kong Customs detected a case involving etomidate (the main ingredient of “space oil drug”), a kind of Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 3 kilograms of suspected “space oil drug” with an estimated market value of about $3.2 million on January 8.
During Customs clearance at the airport on that day, Customs officers found the batch of suspected “space oil drug” concealed in a tote bag and a box of food package inside an unclaimed baggage arriving from Malaysia.
After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers today (February 6) arrested a 47-year-old male, who was suspected to be connected with the case in Tuen Mun and seized one “space oil drug” infused capsule and two vape devices in the cross body bag carried by him.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).