ECSTASY WORTH $96M SEIZED IN RECORD HAUL

Police seized Ecstasy tablets worth $96 million - the biggest single
seizure in Hong Kong - in a hotel in Yau Ma Tei. A 34-year-old Dutch man
was arrested in the raid on the Eaton Hotel in Nathan Road on Tuesday
night, during which 320,000 tablets were found.

Narcotics Bureau Detective Chief Superintendent Henrique Koo Sii-hong said
Netherlands police were investigating links with a syndicate operating
there. He said he believed a second person had brought the drugs - packed
in three bags - through Chek Lap Kok.

He believed the consignment was "too big" for Hong Kong's drug users and
many of the tablets could have been bound for the mainland and Macau. The
suspect had been staying in the hotel since arriving from the Netherlands
more than six weeks ago.

"We are investigating whether there is a syndicate involved in local
distribution or involved in distributions to markets in Macau and on the
mainland," Mr Koo said. The suspect is expected to be charged with
trafficking in dangerous drugs. The previous record seizure was 30,000
tablets in March last year.

Announcement of the seizure coincided with a visit by the US' drug policy
chief, who called for Hong Kong to be removed from a global list of major
drug-producing and trafficking centres.