Hong Kong police arrest man, seize HK$9.4 million worth of suspected ketamine in air purifier filters shipped from overseas

“Upon inspection, another 19.8kg of suspected ketamine was found hidden in the 11 filters,” the senior inspector said, adding that the seized illegal substance had an estimated street value of more than HK$9.4 million.

Tong said preliminary investigations indicated that the air purifier was shipped to the city from overseas before it was delivered to the flat, where the drugs were taken out.

He said the operation prevented the batch from being circulated in the city’s underground market.

Police arrested the 26-year-old on suspicion of trafficking in a dangerous drug – an offence punishable by up to life in prison and a HK$5 million fine.

According to the force, investigations are still under way and further arrests have not been ruled out.

As of Thursday afternoon, the suspect was still being held for questioning.

Official figures showed seizures of the five major illegal drugs – cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine, heroin and ketamine – rose by 68 per cent to 13.29 tonnes last year from 7.9 tonnes in 2022.