Drug dealers exploit social media to push sales

Henry Siu

Drug dealers have been using disguised online shops on social media to sell drugs, including marijuana and "space oil."

To attract young consumers, they employ famous cartoon characters in their advertisements.

According to Sing Tao Daily, The Standard's sister publication, these dealers have created fake Facebook pages for their online shops, as well as purchased advertisements.

When users click on the hyperlinks, they are redirected to Telegram group chats where they can purchase weed candies and other marijuana products, including the emerging drug "space oil," which contains etomidate - a substance used for anesthesia and sedation that can only be obtained with a doctor's prescription.

Within these Telegram groups, posts and videos introduce methods for consuming the drugs and discuss their so called benefits, alongside advertisements for various weed products packaged with cartoon designs.

Some dealers have even appropriated characters from the American science fiction sitcom Rick and Morty to promote their offerings.

One image features Rick holding a bong and Morty with a cigarette, surfing through space on a rocket shaped like a cigarette.

The image includes a slogan advertising the weed products and a comment saying: "Three sports cars deliver goods at the speed of light, as usual, in late-night hours."

The cost for these drugs were ranged from HK$1,000 to HK$5,000, often with promotions to encourage bulk purchases.

Education expert Szeto Hon-ming said drug dealers utilize appealing packaging and media strategies that easily reach young people, making them vulnerable to these traps. He urged parents and teachers to educate teenagers about the dangers of drugs and to be vigilant against suspicious promotions.

Police statistics revealed that 132 individuals were arrested in "space oil" cases from January to October, marking a 33-fold increase from the four arrests during the same period last year.

In contrast, there were 412 weed-related cases during the period - a 14.3 percent decrease from 481 cases in the previous year.

Notably, "space oil" was reported as the third most common drug among those under 21, while marijuana remained the most prevalent.

henry.siu@singtaonewscorp.com