Acting chief superintendent of the Narcotics Bureau Tsang Cheung-tat (left) and chief inspector (operations) of the Narcotics Bureau Wong Yiu-wing show a large quantity of cocaine at a press conference yesterday. Officers smashed a drug wholesale center and seized the largest amount of cocaine in a single case in recent years. Edmond Tang

HONG KONG: Police smashed a cocaine wholesale center and seized more than 30 kilograms of cocaine, the largest amount seized in a single case in recent years.

Ted Tsang Cheung-tat, acting chief superintendent of the Narcotics Bureau, said two kilograms of suspected cocaine were seized from two storage lockers at the New Town Plaza in Sha Tin Monday afternoon and three local men, aged 30 to 32, were arrested.

Later that day, police searched the Ma On Shan flat of one of the men and found about 29 kilograms of cocaine, around 2.8 kilograms of crack cocaine and packaging tools.

The amount of cocaine seized was the largest in a single police operation over the past five to six years, said Tsang.

"We believe we have smashed a high-level and cross-country cocaine trafficking syndicate. We will continue with our operation and do not rule out arresting more people later on," he said.

The seizures in connection with the syndicate on Monday are estimated to be worth about HK$28 million, Tsang said.

He said police believe the drugs came from South America, perhaps via Europe or Africa, and most of them were supposed to be sold in Hong Kong, while the rest might have been destined for other Asian markets.

Police are still probing exactly how the drugs were imported.

Tsang added that police had monitored the syndicate for about two months and had carried out the operation after a tip-off.

Monday's raid was part of the ongoing anti-drug operation codenamed "Vanquisher" launched in mid-June, police said.

Tsang said cocaine is not popular among teenage drug abusers, partly because it is more expensive than many other drugs.

He said over 75 per cent of drug offenders under 21 years old typically use ketamine, while about 5 percent have been caught for cocaine-related offences.

Police said the three suspects will be charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs and will appear before the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today.

Wilson Fok Lok-sang, a Narcotics Bureau's superintendent, said the three suspects have no triad backgrounds.

The subject of drug abuse has been debated in recent weeks following a plan to randomly test students for drug use.

Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Roderick Woo Bun and government officials are scheduled to meet to discuss the plan.

Acting secretary for education Kenneth Chen Wei-on said authorities hope to compile the information as soon as possible and then meet with the privacy watchdog.

Meanwhile, after attending a seminar on youth drug problems for teachers yesterday, secretary for justice Wong Yan-lung said the government is not afraid of criticism and still wants to give the scheme a try.

(HK Edition 08/19/2009 page1)