Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 1) shut down a suspected etomidate manufacturing centre and seized over 3 000 suspected etomidate capsules, about 13.4 kilograms of suspected liquid etomidate, about 3kg of suspected etomidate powder, and a batch of suspected drug manufacturing and packaging paraphernalia in Kam Tin. A local man was arrested and the total estimated market value of the suspected etomidate amounted to about $42 million.

     During an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Kam Tin yesterday afternoon, Customs intercepted a 61-year-old local man and escorted him to a village house unit nearby for a search. Customs officers seized the batch of suspected etomidate and suspected drug manufacturing and packaging paraphernalia in the unit. The man was arrested subsequently.
      
     The arrested man has been charged with one count of manufacture of a dangerous drug and one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Tuen Mum Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (September 3).

     According to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, manufacture of a dangerous drug and trafficking in a dangerous drug are serious offences. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Ends/Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:45

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