Police bust Yuen Long marijuana farm

Police have smashed a marijuana operation in the Yuen Long district and seized cannabis plants and buds estimated to be worth HK$11 million (US$1.41 million).

The raid came two weeks after police received a tip-off that some people were growing marijuana in a remote village house in Tong Yan San Tsuen, news website hk01.com reports.

Officers from the Narcotics Bureau arrested a 43-year-old unemployed man, surnamed Cheung, and a 72-year-old woman, surnamed Lam.

Both are locals and tenants of the house.

A total of 580 cannabis plants and 1.1 kilograms of cannabis buds were confiscated from a 2,000-square-foot farm secretly located inside the house.

According to officials, the farm was equipped with air exhausters, sunlamps, air-conditioners, humidity controllers and carbon-dioxide makers to facilitate plant growth.

Officials said the farm has been operating for about three months and providing one-stop services that included production and packaging.

Some of its products have been sold on the market, according to Sing Tao Daily.

Investigations are continuing and more arrests are expected.

According to the Dangerous Drug Ordinance, any person who cultivates cannabis or opium poppy is liable to a fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for 15 years upon conviction.

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