The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested two women from Vietnam for drug trafficking on Thursday, PJ spokesman Cheong Kim Fong said during a special press conference on Friday.
Cheong identified the pair as Nguyen, 33, and Ta, 36. Ta is a non-resident worker (NRW) employed as a masseuse, while Nguyen had previously worked as a masseuse with Ta under the same NRW status, Cheong said, adding that after leaving her job, Nguyen began overstaying her visa on May 24.
According to Cheong, following intelligence indicating drug trafficking activities, the Judiciary Police identified the duo and intercepted them on Thursday afternoon at their home in the city’s centre.
During the operation, Cheong said, PJ officers seized a large quantity of drugs from a suitcase, including 286 packets of methamphetamine (aka meth or ice, weighing a total of 380.8 grammes), 159 packets of ketamine (245.2 grammes), 33 packets of a drug commonly known as “happy powder”* (165 grammes), 10 packets of MDMA (ecstasy) fragments and powder (approximately 702.6 grammes, equivalent to 1,316 pills), as well as 11 glass straws and other drug-taking paraphernalia. Officers also confiscated HK$2,000 (2,059 patacas) in suspected drug proceeds and one casino chip worth HK$10,000.
Cheong said that the investigation revealed that the duo had been engaged in drug trafficking activities since May, selling drugs through a network of fellow compatriots. Both refused to disclose the source of the drugs or any information about their upstream suppliers, Cheong said, adding that the urine tests for both came back negative for drugs.
The duo were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) on Friday, each facing charges of drug trafficking and possession of drug-taking paraphernalia.
*“Happy powder” is an illicit, fruit-flavoured powdered mix containing an unpredictable cocktail of MDMA, methamphetamine, ketamine, and benzodiazepines designed to be dissolved in drinks. - Gemini
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the two hooded drug suspects from Vietnam to a PJ van outside the PJ headquarters in Zape on Friday. – Photos: Armindo Neves
Evidence seized from the duo’s home in the city centre is displayed at the PJ headquarters in Zape on Friday.
