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Hong Kong police have arrested three men and seized suspected drugs worth about HK$9.2 million in a Tuen Mun operation that uncovered an alleged method of smuggling ketamine by dissolving it in liquid and soaking it into clothing.
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Officers from the Narcotics Bureau mounted an ambush near a village house in Fuk Hang Tsuen on August 22 and intercepted three men aged between 19 and 26.
A search of the premises uncovered about 14 kilograms of suspected ketamine, two kilograms of suspected heroin and 151 capsules suspected of containing etomidate.
Police later searched a nearby unit believed to have been used as a clandestine drug-processing laboratory, where officers detected a strong chemical odor.
Equipment, large plastic trays filled with liquid and soaked garments were found inside the unit.
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Preliminary investigations indicated that the syndicate had attempted to extract and refine ketamine from the liquid and clothing using chemical processes.
Police estimated that about 40 liters of ketamine-laced liquid found at the scene could have yielded around six kilograms of refined ketamine.
The three men were arrested on suspicion of trafficking in dangerous drugs and manufacturing dangerous drugs. They are due to appear at Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.
Police said the suspects, who were young and unemployed, were believed to have been recruited with financial incentives. They were initially tasked with storing and transporting drugs before allegedly being drawn into the processing operation.
Investigators said the syndicate used covert methods to avoid detection, including dissolving ketamine in liquid and soaking it into clothing so the material could be disguised as ordinary laundry during transportation before being chemically extracted at the processing site.
Police also said the group kept its processing facility separate from the storage location in an apparent attempt to reduce the risk of the entire operation being dismantled in a single raid.
Authorities urged property owners to remain vigilant when renting out premises by checking tenants’ backgrounds, intended use of the property and financial circumstances.
Members of the public were also advised to report suspicious activity, strong chemical odors or frequent visits by unfamiliar people in their neighborhood to police.
