ROYAL
NONG
KONG
"POLICE:
IN CONFIDENCE
Introduction
ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE
NARCOTICS BUREAU BULLETIN
2ND HALF 1976
1976 has seen a return to the traditional method of importing bulk consignments of narcotics into Hong Kong using Thai fishing trawlers and Hong Kong based junks. During the period under review four consignments/part consignments were intercepted by the Narcotics Bureau and Preventive Service.
2. The quality of heroin available to addicts has increased, and it appears that the practice of 'cutting' heroin at wholesale level is dying out. Prices, however, have continued to rise to record
highs on both the wholesale and retail illicit markets.
3. The Government Methadone Detoxification Programme, aimed at the cure of physical addic- tion to heroin through the administration of gradually reducing doses of methadone, has met with a favourable response, prompting the opening of four additional centres during the second half of the
year.
At the close of the year the registration at the sixteen centres stood at 6,566. At the same time the registration at Methadone Maintenance centres was 8,936.
4. Seven heroin factories were uncovered during the six month period July-December, bringing to eleven the total number of factories neutralized in 1976. This represents the highest number of heroin factories to have been discovered in any one year since 1963. In contrast to the first half of the year, all but one of the factories discovered during the period under review were situated in residential flats.
Import
5. During the second half of the year several large consignments of opium, morphine and heroin have been interdicted by the Narcotics Bureau and the Preventive Service. Whilst attempts at bulk import may continue, it is thought likely that these seizures, causing heavy financial losses to the organisers, may cause a shift in emphasis to small scale high frequency imports. These include con- cealment aboard merchant vessels, in sea and air cargo, and by the use of air and sea couriers.
6. An interesting feature of the year has been the diversification of the types of drugs imported. In the past imports were generally limited to raw opium and morphine, whereas recent months have seen a significant rise in the import of prepared opium and heroin. These drugs need no further pre- paration or refining once they reach Hong Kong and consequently the risk of detection at that stage is removed. High grade (up to 40% purity) heroin has featured increasingly in seizures made during
past six months.
the
Manufacture
7. It is apparent that most large scale, fixed location heroin factories have discontinued opera- tions, and increasing use is being made of what can best be termed 'suitcase' factories. Equipment is
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