A drug trafficking network across Hong Kong and Shenzhen was demolished by the authorities of the two cities in a joint operation, announced the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday.

In the joint operation codenamed "Blade Run" on December 17, law enforcement officials in Shenzhen, the Chinese city one hour-drive north to Hong Kong, seized 2.5 kilograms of illicit drugs including ketamine, cocaine and cannabis and arrested 12 suspects.

Acting on the information provided by Shenzhen, Hong Kong custom officials raided two hotels in the northern part of Hong Kong later on the same day, said a government press release on Wednesday.

The raid seized 10 kilograms of ketamine that worth some 2.6 million HK dollars (around US$335,744). The drugs were packed as 10 bags of Indian foodstuff.

Hong Kong Customs believed that the seized drugs were smuggled into Hong Kong from India, temporarily kept in the hotel and intended to be smuggled in lots by traffickers to Shenzhen for sale.

(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2006)