$75m methamphetamine packed in teabags seized

A 42-year-old man was arrested in a disguised household goods store in Tsuen Wan for drug trafficking on Saturday after police seized 130 kilograms of methamphetamine worth about HK$75 million.

The Mong Kok police earlier received reports that drug traffickers use the store as a disguise to set up a drug warehouse. An anti-drug operation was conducted on Saturday during which a suspicious man was found entering the store and over a hundred packets of suspected methamphetamine were packaged in tea bags.

The shopkeeper was arrested.

The store is understood to be located in Tsuen Wan Heung Wo Street, a street lined with food stores and garages and is usually crowded with people.

The store had supposedly been in operation at least since last November, selling household goods and groceries on the surface.

It had a hidden compartment set aside for the storage of drugs, which were usually put in tea bags as cover.

"We are investigating the source and destination of the drugs as well as whether multinational drug cartels or triad manipulation are involved," police said.

Meanwhile, police were hunting another suspected drug trafficker after a hit-and-run incident in Tsim Sha Tsui on Saturday night, in which 56 grams of suspected cocaine were found.

Sources said that at around 11pm on Saturday, a Mercedes-Benz car was moving along Austin Road in Jordan, when it suddenly turned left into Nathan Road, and crashed into a fence.

An officer on a police motorcycle signaled the driver to stop. But the motorist continued and accelerated, jumped at least five red lights before turning right into Salisbury Road, trying to flee in the direction of Tsim Sha Tsui Pier.

But after he rammed another six-meter fence, the driver abandoned the car and fled.

The officer tried to stop the man but, following a struggle, the suspect managed to escape on Salisbury Road towards Kowloon Park Drive.

Officers later found 56 grams of the drug with a market value of HK$50,000 in the abandoned vehicle. The plate was registered under another Tesla vehicle.

Police has classified the case as a traffic accident damaging government properties, assaulting police officers, making false instruments, dangerous driving and drug trafficking.

Police said the suspect is in his 30s, about 168 centimeters tall and wore a black jacket.
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