Press Release

Correctional Officers combats illicit transaction of psychotropic drugs among persons in custody

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD) today (November 16) launched an operation at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre to combat illicit activities by persons in custody.

     ​At about 8.40am today, 10 male remand persons in custody, aged between 24 and 46, were found fighting inside a dayroom. Officers at the scene immediately called for reinforcement. The fight continued even upon the arrival of the reinforcement. OC foam was used to subdue the persons in custody after repeated warnings were given but in vain. Four persons in custody sustained minor injuries to the head, hands, the back and more. After examination and treatment by the institution Medical Officer, they did not need to be sent to a public hospital. The 10 persons in custody concerned were removed from association for investigation.

     Preliminary investigation revealed that the fight broke out in relation to illicit transaction of psychotropic drugs among persons in custody. According to intelligence, individual persons in custody regurgitated the psychotropic drugs after swallowing them as prescribed by a Medical Officer, and subsequently sold the drugs to other persons in custody.

     In view of the gravity of the incident, the CSD immediately deployed the regional response team and other support teams to Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre to assist in combating the illicit activities concerned. During the operation, apart from the aforementioned 10 persons in custody, a further nine persons in custody suspected to have engaged in illicit activities were removed from association and put under investigation. The CSD will continue to closely monitor the situation.

     To assist persons in custody to rehabilitate in a safe and secure custodial environment, the CSD spares no effort in combating illicit activities of all kinds in its institutions. Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre is a maximum security prison for the detention of male adult persons in custody who are mostly on remand.

Ends/Monday, November 16, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:42