*************************************************

    Police arrested 16 persons and seized a quantity of dangerous drugs worth $55,000 and some weapons in an anti-crime operation conducted in Mong Kok this morning (July 24).

    Acting on information, police mounted a prolonged undercover operation on three nightclubs that sell drugs to youngsters since early July.

    The operation turned overt this early morning.  Police raided three nightclubs on Mong Kok Road and arrested 10 men and six women, aged between 19 and 57.  Among them, three men and six women were nightclub staff, which included licensees, managers and ushers.  The rest of them were customers.

    They are arrested for various drug offences including trafficking in dangerous drugs, permitting a place for various offences, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of prohibited weapons and possession of offensive weapons.

    After a search of the three nightclubs, police found 267 tablets of Ecstasy, 167 tablets of Ketamine, 164 tablets of Erimin 5 "Ng Jai", 10 grams of cannabis and five grams of cocaine.  The drugs seized have a retail market value of $55,000.

    During the operation, Police also seized two extendable batons, two "knuckleduster", and three torch-converted weapons.

    All the arrested persons are still being detained for further enquiries.

Add Police Report No. 5

Issued by PPRB

Ends/Sunday, July 24, 2005

NNNN