Police raid on Pokemon TCG store uncovers $1.3 million worth of narcotics

Hong Kong police discovered $1.3 million worth of methamphetamine in a narcotics warehouse masquerading as a Pokemon TCG store.

Despite the wholesome and kid-friendly nature of the Pokemon franchise, it attracts a lot of crime. Seriously, we have a whole list of Pokemon-related or adjacent felonies.

There have been $500,000 heists, armed robberies, and more recently, a store specializing in the selling and playing of the Pokemon TCG being damaged in a shootout. Something about these adorable little monsters seems to bring out the worst in people.

In what might be one of the most serious Pokemon-related crimes we’ve seen, Hong Kong Police uncovered a hidden storage facility in a Pokemon TCG store. Within the facility, they found commercial quantities of methamphetamine.

Initially reported by the South China Morning Post, the raid occurred on August 19, 2024, following the investigation of a 28-year-old man who was found in front of the store with 5kg of methamphetamine on his person. When police raided the store, they found a total of 16kg of the drug in a staff-only area of the shop.

The amount secured was estimated to be valued at $10 million HKD which equates to approximately $1.3 million USD. Despite the store frequently hosting Pokemon TCG tournaments and having a clientele primarily made up of children and teenagers, police confirmed that the drugs were not sold to, or trafficked by customers.

Hong Kong Narcotics Bureau Inspector Liong Chun-Hin still found the crime unconscionable. “Storing such a large quantity of narcotics in a place where teenagers and children can visit is irresponsible and disgraceful behavior that also heightens the possible risk of teenagers and children mistakenly encountering illegal drugs,” he told local media.

Liong Chun-Hin also told the press that police believe the store had been operating as a front for drug storage for more than a month before Police located it.

They also suspect the owners had been recruited by a much larger drug trafficking organization.