H.K.-Japan joint drug operation seizes ''Ice,'' nets 4 suspects

Hong Kong and Japanese police forces arrested four Hong Kong residents in Japan earlier this month in joint-operated drug bust, Hong Kong police said Tuesday.

The operation, codenamed ''Mailrunner,'' was jointly carried out by Hong Kong's Narcotics Bureau and Japan's national police.

Four men, aged between 39 and 49, were arrested July 12 after 24 kilograms of ''Ice,'' a popular party drug, were seized inside a container delivered to Osaka, western Japan, from Canada, the police statement said.

The alleged mastermind of the drug syndicate was among the arrested.

His wife, a 34-year-old woman, was arrested in Hong Kong for money laundering, the statement said.

The drugs seized are estimated to have a retail value of HK$90 million (US$11.5 million) if sold in individual doses in Japan.

Police later froze four properties, several bank accounts and other assets worth about HK$17.5 million under the names of the alleged mastermind and his wife that are believed to be the proceeds of an indictable offence.

Japanese police also seized 15 million yen (US$126,000) in cash, a lighter-shaped pistol and 10 bullets in Japan, the statement said.