A local man and a Vietnamese couple were arrested on Monday for selling drugs and a total of 6.51 grammes of ice and 1.2 grammes of ecstasy powder with an estimated street value of 20,000 patacas were seized in the operation, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokeswoman Lei Hon Nei said at a special press conference yesterday.
The 38-year-old local jobless suspect is surnamed Lei. The 37-year-old female Vietnamese suspect is surnamed Lê, while the 31-year-old male Vietnamese suspect is surnamed Phi, they are lovers and non-resident workers employed as hotel cleaners.
According to the spokeswoman, the Judiciary Police received a tip-off recently that Lei was selling drugs in Areia Preta district to clients of night entertainment venues. PJ officers took action on Monday in Rua dos Hortelãos in Areia Preta and arrested Lei in the afternoon. The officers seized five packets of ice weighing a total of 3.11 grammes and some drug-taking paraphernalia in Lei’s home in Estrada da Areia Preta.
The Judiciary Police identified Lê based on information provided by Lei and arrested her in the evening in Rua de João de Araújo in San Kio district. PJ officers seized from her five packets of ice weighing a total of three grammes. The officers then went to her home in Rua de João de Araújo where they arrested Phi. The officers seized 0.4 grammes of ice and 1.2 grammes of ecstasy powder from him. A total of 18,800 patacas and HK$22,000 of suspected drug money were found on him, the spokeswoman said.
Under questioning, Lei told the police that he had purchased seven packets of ice at a price of 1,200 patacas each from Lê last month, while the Vietnamese duo refused to cooperate with the police.
The spokeswoman said that according to the findings of the investigation, the Judiciary Police believe that the two Vietnamese suspects had been selling drugs for more than a month. Lei and Phi tested positive for drugs.
The trio were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, facing charges of trafficking in narcotic and psychotropic substances, while Lei also faces a charge of possession of drug-taking paraphernalia, according to the spokeswoman.
The drug suspects are being escorted by Judiciary Police (PJ) officers from the PJ headquarters to a PJ vehicle yesterday. Photos courtesy of TDM
Evidence seized from the drug suspects such as four smartphones, a number of packets of drugs and drug-taking paraphernalia is displayed at the Judiciary Police (PJ) headquarters yesterday.
