Tag: ice

Chasing the dragon – Part 2

CONTINUED FROM Part 1
The Diamond Hill murders

In October 2022, I was admitted to Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre. At first, I didn’t have any special feelings because prison life for me just meant no drugs, no women, and no internet. I was already used to the rest of it. But on June 2, 2023, a tragedy happened. A murder took place at Diamond Hill Hollywood Plaza. A mentally ill man randomly killed two young women. On June 3, when I read the newspaper, I noticed the second victim looked very familiar. The newspaper obscured the victim’s face with a grid, so I couldn’t see it clearly, but I still felt it looked familiar, like my daughter. I looked closer at the victim’s name; at that time, the paper only printed the surname. I was relieved and thought it couldn’t be possible — I must be overthinking. I even discussed the case with other inmates, saying how brave the second victim was. Despite being unarmed, she tried to save her friend four times and ultimately lost her life to the attacker.

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Chasing the dragon – Part 1

I am 46 years old this year. I was remanded in custody in October 2022 for burglary.

Growing up

I was born in 1976, and my family lived in an old housing estate on the eastern part of the Kwun Tong District in Kowloon. I have three older sisters and one older brother; I am the youngest. Because both of my parents worked when I was little, they didn’t have time to take care of me, so I stayed at my grandmother’s house. However, my grandmother was very strict, and I was often physically punished or left without food, which made me want to rebel from a young age.

My family could be described as a triad family. My uncle was a triad boss, my brother-in-law was a triad leader, and both my brother and cousin were also members of the triads. From a young age, I was surrounded by triad members, and both my uncle and brother-in-law also sold drugs.

During school holidays when I didn’t have to go to class, I would return to my parents’ home, where I was very happy because many people would take me to the park downstairs, and I could eat snacks and drink soda at the local convenience store for free. This was because the area was full of triads, and the people who took me out to play were the so-called “bad boys” from the neighborhood. So all the food was free. I clearly remember seeing my uncle at home using a matchbox to smoke something off a piece of silver paper (later, I learned it was heroin — the “chasing the dragon” method).

I thought it was very strange back then, wondering what my uncle was doing, and he looked very comfortable and seemed to be enjoying himself. When I moved back to live with my parents in Form 1, I was very happy because I finally escaped hardship and could live well. Maybe my mother felt guilty for not spending much time with me when I was young, so she spoiled and indulged me, never scolding or punishing me even when I made mistakes. This made me even more out of control. I skipped school all the time and was eventually expelled. Not only did I stop going to school, but I also spent every day hanging around basketball courts and arcade centers, where I met a group of delinquent friends. By age 14, I even joined a triad. I idled my time away daily, eating, drinking, partying, chasing girls, and getting into fights.

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An unwitting drug courier

I am a 29-year-old married woman with a 9-year-old daughter. In 2020, I moved to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper, hoping to improve my family’s financial situation. Unfortunately, while here, I encountered serious financial problems.

A trusted friend borrowed my work contract and passport to use as loan collateral. When this friend disappeared, I was left responsible for the substantial debt. Since my documentation was used as collateral, I had no choice but to assume responsibility for repaying everything.

My employer eventually discovered my financial troubles when the bank sent a late payment notice to their address. This led to my termination. Finding a new employer proved extremely difficult due to the lengthy process, so I resorted to working illegally as a restaurant cleaner or dishwasher. However, these jobs paid too little to cover both my debt payments and living expenses.

While searching for additional income, I met a 35-year-old Indonesian who seemed helpful, initially offering me simple jobs collecting packages from post offices and other locations. When I confided  about my debt problems, my friend offered to help clear my debts. Desperate for assistance, I accepted the offer without properly considering the risks involved in this arrangement.

Instead of receiving what was promised, I ended up with regret. I am detained on charges of trafficking dangerous drugs.

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Gambled freedom for gambling debt

I was arrested for drug trafficking, a case involving three types of drugs. Although I’m not a drug user, you might ask, why did I get involved in this?

Previously, I worked at a finance company, answering phone calls. The job provided decent commissions, but it led to a gambling addiction. Eventually, I lost all my money and accumulated significant gambling debts. My family, using all their savings, helped me pay off these debts and loans.

My 72-year-old father is retired, dealing with a chronic illness that requires medication and regular check-ups. My mother, a 68-year-old housewife, works part-time as a cleaner. My older brother is a restaurant chef, and my sister works as a salesperson at a clothing store. We’re not wealthy, and while my family didn’t rush me to repay them, my guilt pushed me down the wrong path.

Eventually, I lost all my money and accumulated significant gambling debts. My family, using all their savings, helped me pay off these debts and loans.

A friend of a colleague heard about my desperate need for money – the rest, as they say, is history.

I’ve been in remand for about two and a half years for this first offense. I’ve noticed that many here have lost friends, family, jobs, and most importantly, their health due to drug addiction. Hence, I encourage them to quit drugs when they’re released, and I intend to spread this message when I’m released as well.

Note: This story was originally written in Chinese. It has been translated and edited to improve legibility. Switch language to read the original. 

Out of the shadows, came light

I am 56 years old, and currently detained at a maximum-security prison in Hong Kong.

Coming from a poor family of seven, we lived in temporary housing and resettlement areas. In the late 1960s, the social environment was quite challenging, and I was recruited into a triad organization when I was just 10 years old. At 13, I began using heroin. Influenced considerably by my peers in my youthful naivety, I got involved in various illegal activities such as fighting, theft, and extortion. My drug addiction later led to my exploitation as a drug trafficker and smuggler.

I dropped out of school during junior high though I attended a reputable school, and even became a baptized Christian. Yet, my fixation on drugs overshadowed my interest in studies. The only thing I cared about was getting money to get high.

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Discos, girls and drugs

From a young age, I was separated from my parents, who had migrated from mainland China a few months before my birth. They were preoccupied with work, so when I was six months old, they sent me back to mainland China to be cared for by my aunt. This arrangement lasted until I was three years old and ready to start school in Hong Kong. Before this time, I had rarely seen my parents and we were estranged.

We lived in a tiny room but despite the limited space, we were content. Later, thanks to a fellow villager, my dad secured employment at a seafood shop, and we relocated. We lived on the first floor above the seafood shop.

My parents enjoyed a good relationship then. We weren’t wealthy, but we had enough for our needs, and life was pleasant. After a couple of years, they managed to buy our very own flat. My father started a successful business in the seafood industry and even opened a processing factory across the border.

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Who will care for my father now?

I’m thankful for the opportunity to share the suffering I’m currently facing. This is about my case and story.

My mother committed suicide in 2012 when I was 10 years old, and since then my father began having emotional problems. Previous to that, my father had a severe accident at work that left him disabled. This limited his mobility, and the household expenses became a huge burden to him. I felt immense pressure and felt I needed to grow up quickly to start working and help support the family.

So, when I was 16 years old, I dropped out of school, only completing up to Form 4. I’d been working as a kitchen assistant ever since, trying to earn money to contribute to my disabled father’s care. This has been my daily routine.

When I was 21 years old, I met a friend at a bar. He asked me to help deliver an item to someone, and that he would cover my travel expenses for the favor. At first, I refused because he wouldn’t tell me what the item was. But given my family’s situation, with a disabled father to support, and the financial temptation, I reluctantly agreed. I didn’t know it was drugs until the night of September 7, 2023, when I received the item from a man. I had no intention of using the drugs myself. However, I was immediately arrested that same night.

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‘Double-identity’ deliveryman arrested as Tsuen Wan police seize HK$3.6m of drugs

A 39-year-old man was arrested as Tsuen Wan police raided two warehouses in the area on Wednesday night and seized HK$3.6 million worth of drugs, including crack cocaine and “ice” drug.

After in-depth investigations, Tsuen Wan police targeted two warehouses at an industrial building on Wang Lung Street that were used as storage by drug distributors.

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Drug trafficking driver wanted over four-car pile-up in West Kowloon

A four-car pile-up involving a school bus with 13 kids onboard at the West Kowloon Corridor Saturday morning saw a private car driver fleeing the scene when aiding police investigations. The driver eventually ran away and officers later seized some drugs in his car.

Apart from the school bus, the crash also involved a Volkswagen, a Tesla, and a taxi.

The incident occurred around 9.30am when the vehicles were heading towards Kwai Tsung but were forced to pull over at the section of road opposite the New Kowloon Plaza.

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Drug trafficking is never a good choice

I met a friend a long time ago when I was working in Malaysia. We worked at the same Thai massage shop. She was always good to me. I borrowed money from her when I had financial difficulties. She would also tell me I needn’t worry about returning her the money quickly. At that time I had borrowed a total of 20,000 baht from her. 

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Hong Kong Customs makes record seizure of methamphetamine

The Customs and Excise Department of Hong Kong (Hong Kong Customs) jointly mounted an anti-narcotics operation, codenamed “Yunzhan-duanliu”, with the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the GACC, and the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Shenzhen Customs in March. Hong Kong Customs seized about 700 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of $400 million in the operation at Hong Kong International Airport and a logistics warehouse. This is a record seizure of methamphetamine by Hong Kong Customs. Two men were arrested in the case.

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Man to appear in court after HK$20m drug bust

A 27-year-old man was arrested on Friday afternoon after a drug bust where police found some HK$20 million worth of drugs.

Officers from the Narcotics Bureau initiated the operation after intelligence analysis and investigation and intercepted the man surnamed Yiu, finding six kilograms of suspected “ice” drug methamphetamine in his possession.

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Border closures have caused drug traffickers to think big in $160m haul

Four men were arrested after anti-narcotics officers seized a shipment of heroin and the drug ice worth more than HK$160 million in Hung Hom over the weekend.

The four suspects are a 47-year-old taxi driver, a 29-year-old owner of a car and two men aged 31 to 39, with the latter three claiming to be maintenance workers or jobless.

Narcotics bureau acting senior superintendent Chan Kong-ming said more than 100 kilograms of suspected heroin and approximately 10 kg of suspected crystal methamphetamine were seized in the Saturday operation in Hung Hom.

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Two South Asians nabbed in year’s largest drugs bust

Two South Asians – a Pakistani man who is a Hong Kong resident and a Bangladeshi man – have been arrested by police in Fan Ling when they seized 178 kilograms of illegal drugs worth HK$170 million in fruit juice cartons at a warehouse in On Lok Village.

This, the police said, is the largest drug haul this year.

The suspects will appear in the Fan Ling Magistrates’ Courts today

Police found 88 kilograms of ice, 82 kilograms of heroin, and eight kilograms of ketamine.

The Pakistani and the Bangladeshi are suspected to be involved with a transnational drug trafficking ring.

Source: The Standard