A male mainlander was arrested on Wednesday night in the centre of Taipa for drug trafficking and 18 packets weighing 22.18 grammes of ketamine and eight packets weighing 12.8 grammes of happy powder with an estimated street value of about 35,000 patacas were seized from the suspect, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Choi Ian Fai said at a special press conference yesterday.
The 46-year-old suspect is a non-resident worker surnamed Zhao, employed as a cleaner.
According to Choi, the Judiciary Police were tipped-off a week ago that a non-resident male worker from the mainland was selling drugs. The suspect had been living in a hotel in Cotai for a long time.
PJ officers put Zhao under surveillance on Wednesday. At about 11 p.m. that night, Zhao left the hotel and got into a taxi heading to the centre of Taipa. PJ officers suspected that Zhao went there to sell drugs. When Zhao got out of the taxi, PJ officers arrested him and seized the drugs as well as suspected drug money in Hong Kong dollars and patacas equivalent to 35,000 patacas.
Choi said Zhao admitted to taking drugs, and tested positive for ketamine. However, the suspect denied his involvement in drug trafficking and refused to assist the police in their investigation. Choi said Zhao had travelled frequently between Macau and the mainland. The Judiciary Police suspect that Zhao smuggled drugs from the mainland to Macau to sell them here. They are continuing their investigation.
Zhao was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, facing drug trafficking and drug abuse charges, according to Choi.
The hooded drug suspect is escorted by Judiciary Police (PJ) officers from the PJ headquarters to a vehicle yesterday. Photos: Iong Tat Choi
Evidence seized from the drug suspect such as two smartphones, packets of drugs, Hong Kong dollar and pataca notes is displayed at the Judiciary Police (PJ) headquarters yesterday.
