Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected “space oil drug” worth about $8.4 million at airport (with photos)
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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 8 kilograms of suspected “space oil drug” with an estimated market value of about $8.4 million, as well as two suspected alternative smoking products today (February 13).
A male passenger, aged 22, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected “space oil drug” concealed inside eight packages of fruit-flavored drink powder inside his check-in suitcase and the two suspected alternative smoking products from his carry-on backpack. The man was subsequently arrested.
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 Import and Export Ordinance, importing prohibited articles not under and in accordance with an import licence or importing an alternative smoking product is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven 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).