Police to start street tests of 'space oil' suspects from Saturday

Marcus Lum

The police narcotics bureau is set to start using test kits to detecting users of a newly emerging narcotic known as "space oil," which is primarily imbibed through vaping, starting Saturday.

Chief inspector Kelvin Cheung Ka-wing said that the accuracy of the etomidate test kits available on the market is nearly 100 percent.

Officers will utilize them to test suspicious individuals on the streets.

"[The test kits] can identify whether alternative smoking devices contain etomidate by analyzing areas that may have come into contact with liquids, such as the mouthpiece and filling ports," Cheung said.

He also said the kits will only be used on people when police have reasonable suspicion based on observations but lack evidence.

To ensure proper use, the force has issued standard operating procedures for frontline officers, who must complete e-learning courses before using the test kits.

Cheung said there has been a notable increase in narco-related cases, with 141 incidents recorded as of November, compared to just seven in 2023.

Of those arrested, 47 were under 21, with the youngest being only 12.

Leo Man Chap-mo, head of the Youth Crime Prevention Centre at the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, urged people to refrain from using space oils for their health.

He said it can lead to side effects such as hand tremors, dizziness, and memory loss, as well as irritability and aggression, which could pose serious risks to their well-being.