Manager arrested after $57m convenience store meth bust
Police seized HK$57 million worth of methamphetamine at a convenience store in a Kwun Tong shopping mall Tuesday and arrested a 22-year-old man for drug trafficking.
Officers targeted the KK Convenience Store in Laguna Arcade and found 100 kilograms of suspected meth in the store's warehouse.
The drugs were wrapped in aluminum foil and tea packaging in disguise and placed in five plastic boxes in between stocks of snacks and other commodities.
The arrested suspect - store manage, Kong - will appear at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today.
Police said Kong was recruited by a drug trafficking syndicate last month to store 100 kilograms of suspected meth - believed to be for the local market - in his warehouse.
Narcotics inspector Chu Siu-lung said officers are still investigating the source of the drugs and more arrests are likely to be made.
"The police have zero tolerance for drug trafficking," Chu said.
Meanwhile, Customs arrested three teenagers - two boys, 14, and one girl, 15 - on Tuesday for allegedly signing their names as recipients and storing 1.5 kilograms of heroin worth HK$3 million for a reward of HK$15,000.
Officers found the drugs hidden in three boxes of parcels arriving at the Hong Kong International Airport's cargo center from Thailand on January 22.
A monitored delivery operation was conducted and officers arrested the teens when they received the parcels in Kwun Tong.
Officers also raided the Sau Mau Ping home of one of the boys and found three kilograms of meth and a set of tools used for packing drugs.
"We appeal to young people that they should not risk trafficking drugs as it's a serious criminal offense," Customs said.
Also, Customs said it will "take strict enforcement action" against cannabidiol, which has been banned from yesterday.
Illicit manufacturing of CBD is liable to a maximum fine of HK$5 million and up to life imprisonment.
Possession and consumption of CBD will be subject to a maximum fine of HK$1 million and imprisonment of up to seven years.