Teenagers arrested over HK$278,000 ‘space oil’ seizure in Hong Kong

An 18-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl have been arrested in Hong Kong for suspected drug trafficking and possession after police seized narcotics worth about HK$278,000 (US$35,779) including ketamine and “space oil” vape cartridges.

Police said on Wednesday that the pair were arrested at a residential unit in Yau Ma Tei on Monday, following a raid operation.

The raid, executed at a unit on 17-24 Man Ying Street, was the culmination of investigations conducted in collaboration between a Yau Mei Tei special squadron and uniformed patrol officers, the force said.

Officers discovered about 475 grams of suspected ketamine as well as 121 suspected vape cartridges containing liquid etomidate, commonly referred to as “space oil”, both totalling around HK$278,000 in street value.

Etomidate is a powerful anaesthetic that has gained notoriety in recent years as a common main ingredient in space oil, a rapidly popular recreational drug among youngsters that is readily available in e-cigarette capsules.

The operation also uncovered a cache of suspected drug packaging tools.

Police said the arrested pair now face drug trafficking and possession charges, and remain detained in custody as Yau Ma Tei district officers continue investigations.