Police said on Sunday they would lay holding charges against three people, aged between 21 and 35, on suspicion of manufacturing and trafficking in dangerous drugs.

Officers made the arrests as they raided a village house in Yuen Long on Saturday. They also seized 10 kilogrammes of suspected drugs including cocaine and methamphetamine, estimated to be worth around HK$7.7 million, along with tools believed to be used to produce drugs.

Speaking at a press briefing, Senior Inspector Chow Ka-yun said a criminal group had been recruiting young people to carry out drug trafficking activities.

“Based on our investigation, we believe this drug manufacturing and storage facility had been operating for a month,” he said.

“The suspects claimed to be a student, a singer and an unemployed person. We believe they took a risk out of desperation due to debts and were recruited by criminals with rewards ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to over a hundred thousand dollars.”

Their cases will be brought up at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on Monday.