The police arrested on Tuesday a local drug dealer who has a criminal record in the mainland for the same offence, resulting in the seizure of 5.46 grammes of ice and a joint, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokeswoman Lei Hon Nei said at a special press conference yesterday.

Lei said the jobless suspect is a 53-year-old male surnamed Peng.

Lei said that the Judiciary Police recently received a tipoff that a man was selling drugs in Toi San district and near the Barrier Gate checkpoint. The police identified the suspect and his address, and on Tuesday they intercepted Peng near the checkpoint, Lei said, adding that no drugs were found on his body at that time. 

According to Lei, the police searched Peng’s flat in San Kio district later and found 11 small packs of ice (aka crystal meth) weighing a total of 5.46 grammes,  a joint (aka rolled cannabis cigarette) weighing 0.35 grammes, as well as electronic scales. Lei noted that the drugs have an estimated street value of 18,000 patacas. 

According to Lei, Peng sold five packs of ice, which he had bought in the mainland, for 1,500 patacas each locally during two months and made a 2,500 patacas profit.  Lei noted that Peng has a criminal record in the mainland for selling drugs in 2014.

He tested positive for narcotics, Lei said, adding that he was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, facing charges of trafficking and selling narcotics and psychotropic substances. 

Evidence seized from the local drug suspect such as packets of ice and drug-taking paraphernalia is displayed at the Judiciary Police (PJ) headquarters yesterday. – Photo: William Chan

This undated handout photo provided by the Judiciary Police (PJ) shows PJ officers escorting the suspected drug dealer out of his home.