Police's large-scale anti-drug operations during the summer holidays landed 418 in custody, with the youngest aged 13, in 303 drug-related cases. They also observed a significant increase in seized etomidate, previously known as "space oil", compared to similar operations in the same period last year.
In a press briefing on Sunday, the Narcotics Bureau said it has mounted anti-drug operations across the city since July 13, leading to the arrest of 328 males and 90 females aged between 13 to 73, while 11 of them were boys and six were girls.
They were suspected of offences including manufacturing dangerous drugs, drug trafficking, in possession of dangerous drugs, operating a drug den and possession of poisons, and some of them were already charged.
Police said the quantity of suspected drugs containing etomidate seized in the operation had risen significantly compared with similar operations in the same period last year. This included about 4.9 litres of suspected liquid etomidate and more than 2,700 suspected etomidate‑containing vape cartridges.
Police vow crackdown on youth exploitation
They also pointed out that some traffickers had lured young people into transporting and selling drugs for small sums of money, attempting to shift legal responsibility onto them.
Among those arrested was a 13‑year‑old boy suspected of being induced to traffic four suspected etomidate‑containing vape cartridges, and a 14‑year‑old girl suspected of trafficking ketamine and cocaine.
Police are highly concerned about the involvement of young people in drug‑related crime and will focus on cracking down on traffickers who exploit youths for drug‑trafficking activities.
They added that enforcement will be stepped up during long holidays, such as Christmas, Lunar New Year, and Easter, to comprehensively combat drug offenses.
