Police Bust Lok Ma Chau Etomidate Vape Cartridge Lab
HK01 · 5 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Police in Hong Kong said they raided a suspected etomidate production workshop and storage site in a subdivided village house in Liu Pok Village, Lok Ma Chau, on September 7, arresting a 40-year-old local man. Officers said they seized 5,960 suspected etomidate vape cartridges and a large quantity of materials and equipment, with an estimated market value of more than HK$1.5 million.
Key Points
- Border District officers, after intelligence analysis and investigation, identified a subdivided village house unit in Liu Pok Village as a suspected etomidate drug workshop.
- At about 6:40pm on September 7, officers intercepted a man leaving the unit with an eco-bag containing 18 parcels and 2,050 suspected cartridges.
- Police then found 20 more suspected cartridges in the suspect's light goods vehicle and 3,890 more inside the unit.
- Seized equipment included raw materials, flavored glycerin or essential oil, an induction cooker, syringes, electronic scales, batteries and many empty cartridge casings.
- Police said the 40-year-old unemployed local man had no triad background and allegedly handled production, packaging and delivery for the local market.
Why It Matters
Police said they believe the workshop and drug storehouse had been operating since the start of this year, suggesting a sustained local supply chain rather than a one-off shipment. The suspect was being detained and was expected to be charged with trafficking in and manufacturing dangerous drugs, offences that police said carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a HK$5 million fine upon conviction.