Four hundred liters of solution-form cocaine seized in HK

Police seized 400 liters of suspected solution-form cocaine and arrested four men on a fish raft in Sai Kung of Hong Kong's New Territories early Friday morning.

Investigations suggest that by successfully converting the 400-liter solution into powder-form cocaine, a total of 20 kilograms, valued at about 4 million HK dollars (512,820 US dollars), could be made available for sale, according to a Police report released Friday.

It was estimated that a profit of 12 million HK dollars could be made if it was sold on the market.

Four men - three Hong Kong citizens and one South American, aged 41 to 46 -- were arrested. Initial investigations indicate that the cocaine was smuggled into Hong Kong from South America.

Police said this is the first time such a large quantity of cocaine was found in solution form. It is an individual case and there is no sign that Hong Kong would have been a drug manufacturing center.

The raid started early Friday morning at Yung Shue O where Police seized seven buckets containing about 400 liters of a brownish solution suspected to be containing cocaine from a fish raft.

Police also discovered other chemicals, mainly hydrochloric acid and acetone, which are suspected to have been used for the conversion of the solution containing cocaine into powder-form cocaine.

All the arrested men are being detained for inquiries.

Source: Xinhua