An air-conditioner short-circuit fire exposed a cannabis grow in an industrial-building unit on Rua da Ribeira do Patane, where Judiciary Police arrested jobless local man surnamed Ng.[1] Officers found nine cultivation tents, 25 cannabis plants and 268 grammes of cannabis flowers with growing, weighing and packing equipment in the unit.[1] A search of Ng’s flat on Rua Central da Areia Preta found seven packets of cannabis products weighing about 90.35 grammes.[1] Police put the total seized in that first haul at 358.36 grammes with a street value of nearly 36,000 patacas.[1] Ng said he bought six seeds online and rented the industrial unit for HK$15,000 a month since April to grow 25 plants by grafting for sale.[1] Ng said he had sold 100 grammes for about 20,000 patacas, admitted taking drugs and tested positive.[1]
After follow-up investigation, Judiciary Police arrested Ho, Lei, Chang and Tin in different districts on Tuesday.[2] The four are local residents Ho, a 29-year-old casino PR worker, Chang, a 29-year-old saleswoman, Lei, a 28-year-old restaurant worker, and Tin, an insurance saleswoman.[2] Officers found two cannabis joints and 1.57 grammes of cannabis flowers in the city-centre flat where Ho and Chang lived together, which the pair said Ng had provided for their own use.[2] Officers found no illicit drugs in Lei’s and Tin’s flats.[2] Ho, Lei and Chang had repeatedly helped Ng install cultivation equipment and decorate the unit, which police said showed they were jointly involved in growing cannabis despite denying direct trafficking.[2] Tin had stayed in the building for a while so police did not rule out her involvement in trafficking, and she denied committing the crime.[2] The four were intercepted on 13 September over moving and installing growing equipment and staying in the building.[3]
The follow-up haul totalled 2.33 grammes valued at about 2,400 patacas.[2] The four tested negative for drugs but police believed they acted for profit.[2] Ng was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office facing drug-trafficking, drug-abuse and paraphernalia charges.[1] Ho, Lei, Chang and Tin were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office facing drug-abuse and organised-crime charges.[2]
