Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected “space oil drug” worth about $1.2 million at airport (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 17) detected a case involving possession of etomidate (the main ingredient of "space oil drug"), a kind of Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations, by passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 1.1 kilograms of suspected "space oil drug" with an estimated market value of about $1.2 million. One woman and one man were arrested.

     A 34-year-old local female passenger and a 41-year-old local male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found two batches of suspected "space oil drug", weighing about 1.1kg in total, strapped around their waists. They were subsequently arrested.

     The two arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation. Investigations are ongoing.

     Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

     Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).