Two arrested for drug trafficking after man found dead in Kowloon City hotel room

A 52-year-old man was found lying in a pool of blood inside a hotel room in Kowloon City on Thursday night and was later pronounced dead in hospital. Police have arrested two people in connection with the discovery, on suspicion of drug trafficking.

The incident occurred around 9pm at a hotel on Sa Po Road. A 32-year-old woman, surnamed Tam, called police after visiting a male friend at the hotel and finding him unconscious on the bed, with blood stains nearby. Paramedics rushed to the scene and sent the man to Kwong Wah Hospital, where he was certified dead.

Initial police investigation classified the case as “dead on arrival.” Officers from the Kowloon City District Crime Squad reviewed CCTV footage and discovered that Tam and two men were seen carrying a suitcase from the hotel room to a private car parked nearby.

A search of the hotel room uncovered several used e-cigarette cartridges suspected to contain etomidate, a potent anesthetic sometimes abused as an intoxicant.

Police later located the vehicle and seized 36 suspected etomidate cartridges and about 1.9 grams of suspected ketamine, with an estimated street value of around HK$10,000.

Tam and a 32-year-old man were later arrested on suspicion of trafficking dangerous drugs. Both remain in custody for questioning.

Police said the deceased, surnamed Wong, had been staying at the hotel for several days. No suicide note was found at the scene, and the cause of death will be determined after a post-mortem examination.

Sources said Tam had rented the hotel room for Wong two days earlier. When she returned Thursday evening, she found him motionless and bleeding from his mouth and nose. Although there were no visible injuries, investigators believe the bleeding could have been linked to a possible drug overdose, pending forensic confirmation.

A private car believed to have been rented by Tam was parked opposite the hotel. Plainclothes officers and a police sniffer dog were deployed to search the vehicle. No additional contraband was found.

Witnesses said Tam had arrived at the hotel earlier with a young girl, estimated to be about three or four years old. Both were later escorted away by police before Tam was brought back to the scene to assist in the investigation.

An investigation is ongoing.