A Vietnamese woman who had been selling ice for around a month in the city centre was arrested yesterday, resulting in the seizure of 481.08 grammes of methamphetamine (ice), 13.47 grammes of ketamine, 82 ecstasy (MDMA) pills and 1 gramme of ecstasy powder, totalling an estimated street value of 1.6 million patacas, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokeswoman Lei Hon Nei said at a special press conference yesterday morning.
The suspect is a 36-year-old non-resident worker (NRW) surnamed Duong who works as a cleaner.
Lei said that the police recently received a tip-off that a woman was selling drugs in the city centre. Lei added that the police identified the suspect and located her address, and then put a residential building in the city centre where she lived under surveillance on Monday afternoon.
Lei pointed out that when Duong turned up outside the residential building yesterday, police officers immediately took her to her flat for further investigation.
Lei noted that the police found 22.65 grammes crystal meth, aka ice, 13.47 grammes of ketamine, 37 ecstasy pills and 1 gramme of ecstasy powder in her flat. Lei added that the suspect also rented another flat in Areia Preta district to stash the drugs. Police officers later seized another 459.03 grammes of ice and 45 ecstasy pills, as well as digital scales and instruments for packaging drugs.
Lei underlined that the seized drugs have an estimated street value of 1.6 million patacas.
Duong admitted selling drugs in the city centre for around a month, but she refused to reveal the source of the drugs.
Duong was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, facing drug trafficking charges.
The hooded suspect is escorted by Judiciary Police (PJ) officers from the PJ headquarters in Zape to a vehicle yesterday.
Evidence seized from the suspect such as drugs and bank notes are displayed during yesterday’s press conference. – Photos: William Chan
