"Ice" seized in HK-Japan joint operation

The Narcotics Bureau (NB) of the Hong Kong Police and the Japan National Police Agency (NPA) mounted a joint operation codenamed "Mailrunner" resulting in the arrest of four Hong Kong residents in Japan and Hong Kong and a seizure of 24 kilograms (kgs) of "Ice" on July 12.

Acting on intelligence analysis, officers of NB have been closely monitored a 49-year-old Hong Kong man since April this year. It was believed that he was the mastermind of a transnational drug trafficking syndicate active in Asia and planned to smuggle dangerous drugs to Japan.

Based on the intelligence provided by the Hong Kong Police, the NPA seized a total of 24 kgs of "Ice" inside a container delivered to Osaka, Japan from Canada and arrested three Hong Kong men, aged between 36 and 49, for trafficking in dangerous drugs. One of them, the 49-year-old man, was believed to be the mastermind of the drug traffickling syndicate. It is estimated that the "Ice" seized could fetch a retail value of HK$90 million if disposed in the market in Japan.

The operation was also conducted in Hong Kong on the same day and a 34-year-old woman, who is the wife of the mastermind, was arrested for money laundering. Police had later freezed four properties, a number of bank accounts and other assets worth about HK$17.5 million in the names of the mastermind and his wife believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence.

During the operation, about JPY15 million in cash (about HK$940,000), a lighter-shaped pistol and ten rounds of bullets were seized. Police are investigating whether the pistol is involved in other crimes.

NB will continue to keep close contacts and intelligence exchange with overseas law enforcement agencies in combating transnational drug trafficking activities.


Police Report No. 2
Issued by PPRB

End/Tuesday, July 31, 2007