A 37-year-old former businessman turned taxi driver, heavily in debt after his business failed, was arrested early Friday morning in Mong Kok for allegedly trafficking various drugs worth up to HK$300,000.
A 37-year-old man surnamed Yuen, previously a businessman who failed and owed banks millions of Hong Kong dollars, switched to driving a taxi but still struggled financially.
Desperate to repay debts quickly, he allegedly turned to drug trafficking using his job as a cover.
Around 2am today, police set up a roadblock on Sai Yee Street near Shantung Street in Mong Kok.
A flagged old four-seater urban taxi stopped abruptly at the checkpoint.
The driver, Yuen, appeared nervous, lowered his head, and fumbled with items inside the vehicle, arousing officers' suspicions leading to a search of the car.
Officers first found a small number of suspected drugs on Yuen, then discovered a backpack in the passenger compartment containing numerous transparent bags of different suspected drugs, including cannabis, methamphetamine, cocaine, and ketamine.
The total estimated street value is HK$200,000 to HK$300,000.
A police dog was brought in for a further search but found no additional contraband.
Yuen was arrested on suspicion of trafficking dangerous drugs and is being held overnight for questioning.
Police are investigating the drugs' source and any linked trafficking network.
The taxi has been seized for examination.
