Macau reports five ‘space oil’ cases to date

The Judiciary Police (PJ) reported that as of yesterday, five cases of “space oil” have been identified in Macau, with two of these cases containing the substance etomidate.

Sou Sio Keong, deputy director of the Judiciary Police, appeared on public broadcaster TDM’s radio program yesterday, where he emphasized the authorities’ ongoing commitment to addressing drug-related issues with a “zero-tolerance” approach.

He specifically noted that Macau began revising relevant laws concerning space oil last year and is currently making steady progress in this regard.

Additionally, referring to Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak’s remarks from last Friday’s legislative session, Sou highlighted that further legislative procedures will be advanced next month.

Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan have already classified “space oil” as a controlled substance, with Hong Kong adding etomidate to the list in this February.

In response to concerns about Macau’s lack of classification for substances related to “space oil”, including etomidate and its three similar compounds – methoflurane, propofol, and isoflurane, Wong explained to lawmakers last Friday that, under Macau’s laws, regulations must be established through formal legislative procedures. In contrast, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan have incorporated “space oil” under control via administrative orders.

According to his remarks, Macau initiated the relevant legislative process at the end of last year and has already submitted the bill to the Executive Council. It is expected to be discussed on Friday and submitted to the Legislative Assembly (AL) for “emergency legislation” in the middle of this month.

Returning to Sou, he highlighted that, as part of the effort to incorporate “space oil” into the regulatory framework and prior to amending the law, the Judiciary Police will engage in consultations with their counterparts in Hong Kong and mainland China. This collaboration will address the structure of space oil and related marginal issues, ensuring a cautious and rigorous approach to information gathering.

He emphasized that the authorities are in the process of procuring the necessary equipment and reagents. Once the law is passed, this will enable them to detect more quickly and accurately whether suspicious targets are involved with space oil, allowing for timely enforcement action.

Meanwhile, the Macau Customs Service (SA) reaffirmed its plan yesterday that Macau-registered vehicles heading to Hengqin will be permitted to enter Guangdong province as officially registered “northbound” cars this year.

“This initiative aims to optimize cross-border traffic and promote the integrated development of Macau and Hengqin,” stated a senior custom officer.