Hong Kong police seize record 25kg of etomidate, arrest two in logistics firm sting
Hong Kong police have seized a record 25kg of suspected etomidate powder, worth over HK$31 million, in a raid on a warehouse disguised as a logistics office. Two men were arrested. Authorities suspect the drugs were stockpiled for Halloween entertainment venues.
Hong Kong police have made the city's largest-ever seizure of the drug etomidate, recovering about 25 kilogrammes of suspected etomidate powder with an estimated street value of more than HK$31 million. Two men were arrested in the operation.
The Narcotics Bureau executed a raid on Tuesday on an industrial building unit in Lai Chi Kok, uncovering a drug storage facility disguised as a logistics company office. Officers seized approximately 25 kilogrammes of suspected etomidate powder along with a large quantity of packaging materials. One of the arrested individuals is a 47-year-old non-Chinese man, while the other is a local man believed to be a logistics company employee.
Police estimate the seized powder could be used to produce more than 120,000 etomidate vape cartridges. Investigators found that traffickers had used brand-new packaging bags from a major courier company to disguise the drugs as ordinary goods, in an attempt to avoid detection.
Senior Inspector Chun Chun-yip of the Narcotics Bureau's Action Unit said that with Halloween approaching, authorities suspect the drugs were being stockpiled for supply to various entertainment venues during the festive period. Both suspects are being detained for questioning and will be formally charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs. The case is expected to be heard at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on Thursday.