Police arrested a 38-year-old man after discovering a suspected drug manufacturing laboratory inside a youth hostel unit in Kai Tak on Monday night, seizing narcotics valued at about HK$1.6 million.
Officers from the Sau Mau Ping district special duty squad raided a unit on Shing Fung Road following intelligence and investigation. They seized approximately 976 suspected etomidate capsules, 12 bottles of suspected etomidate solution, about 470 grams of suspected etomidate powder, a large quantity of chemicals, and a batch of suspected drug manufacturing tools.
The local man was arrested on suspicion of "trafficking in dangerous drugs" and "manufacturing dangerous drugs." He has been provisionally charged with one count of each offence, and his case will be heard at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on Thursday morning.
Police reiterated that manufacturing and trafficking drugs are serious offences, carrying maximum penalties of life imprisonment and a HK$5 million fine upon conviction.
