Police Arrest Six in HK Online Cannabis Ring
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong police said they had dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate that promoted cannabis culture on social media and took orders through messaging platforms, arresting six local men aged 22 to 52. Officers seized about 7.7 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds and a large quantity of cannabis-related products with a total estimated market value of more than HK$1.9 million.
Key Points
- The Narcotics Bureau's Operations Division Third Team launched the anti-drug operation, codenamed "Lim Light," in July to target trafficking through social media platforms
- Investigators found an Instagram account posting pro-cannabis content and linking users to Telegram channels and WhatsApp ordering links for products including cannabis cookies and sweets
- After undercover work, intelligence analysis and surveillance, police identified an operations base in Tsuen Wan and storage sites in Tsuen Wan and Ngau Keng Tsuen, Yuen Long.
- On August 24, officers raided a commercial building on Texaco Road in Tsuen Wan, arresting an alleged ringleader and two customer service staff managing drug-selling social media accounts.
- Police later arrested a warehouse keeper in a Tsuen Wan industrial building, a delivery man in Sham Shui Po, and another suspect at a Yuen Long village-house storage site where more than 6.2 kilograms were found.
Why It Matters
Police said the group had a clear division of labour, including social media management, customer contact, order coordination, storage and delivery, showing how street-level drug sales are being adapted into a more organised online model. All six suspects are to be provisionally charged with conspiracy to traffic in dangerous drugs and trafficking in dangerous drugs, with court appearances scheduled for August 27 at West Kowloon and Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts.