Three taxi drivers among 15 arrested in HK$2.6m cannabis bust

Three taxi drivers were among 15 people arrested as police busted four drug warehouses and seized HK$2.6 million worth of cannabis products on Sunday and Monday. 

The syndicate first came to police’s attention in July as the suspects had opened a channel and discussion group on messaging app Telegram last November to introduce and sell cannabis products. 

Police said the main channel with over 1,100 subscribers, where dealers advertised cannabis and relevant products containing cannabidiol to subscribers and arranged orders, was operated by a well-organized drug ring. 

The drug ring also collaborated with three taxi drivers as couriers to deliver the drugs, police added. 

Police then mounted anti-narcotics operations over the past two days. On Sunday night, officers first arrested six men and a woman in Sha Tin, Cheung Sha Wan, Hung Hom, and Central for possessing and trafficking in dangerous drugs. 

Police also busted a warehouse in Sha Tin and seized about 550 g of cannabis buds, some cannabis oil, cannabis chocolate, and “drug stamps” – small pieces of paper soaked in lysergic acid diethylamide. 

The next day, police arrested seven men and a woman and busted three other warehouses run by the drug ring. Officers seized 100 g of cannabis buds, 867 g of cannabis resin, 250 g of magic mushroom, and a large batch of products containing cannabidiol. 

The arrestees were aged 23 to 68. Police have laid holding charges of drug trafficking on seven of them, and they will appear at the Shatin Court and West Kowloon Court tomorrow. The other eight were released on bail. 

Police said they will continue to investigate the assets of members of the drug ring, and they may make more arrests. 

Police stressed that cannabis and products containing cannabidiol are categorized as dangerous drugs and warned that the maximum penalty for drug trafficking is life imprisonment upon conviction. 

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