Police Commissioner Raymond Siu revealed on Saturday that the force has arrested 157 people in relation to the space oil drug.

He pointed out that 37 of the arrestees were aged below 21, and 16 of them were students.

The figure was recorded between February 14 – when etomidate, the drug's main ingredient was classified as a dangerous drug – and Thursday.

Siu told reporters that police have stepped up enforcement.

"Apart from stepping up street patrols, we also have a lot of intelligence-led operations," he said.

"Among the 120 cases, the arrests for 70 of the cases were carried out on the streets, and another 50 were made in non-public places."

He emphasised that all stakeholders, including school principals and teachers, as well as social workers, play a crucial role in tackling the space oil drug issue.