IN CONFIDENCE
gathered in selected premises and one or two small (around 7 kilogrammes) batches of heroin are manufactured. On completion of the operation the drugs are moved quickly away from the scene and the equipment packed and transported to another location.
8. An acute shortage of acetic anhydride was experienced in July and August and local heroin production was severely curtailed during this period. Although local production has now resumed, it is likely that traffickers, having established links in Thailand, will continue to import significant quantities of No. 3 heroin in the forseeable future.
Export
9.
There is increasing evidence that local exporters are operating out of other South-East Asian cities where the risk of arrest is considerably reduced and prices generally lower.
10. Channels of communication with overseas enforcement agencies are well established and have been enhanced by personal contact through visits and international conferences. Exchange of information coupled with several joint operations has resulted in the arrest of significant international heroin traffickers both in Hong Kong and overseas.
Storage/Distribution
11. Narcotics stores continue to hold relatively small stocks of drugs, and seizures of over 2 kilogrammes of heroin or 10 kilogrammes of opium are rare. Following import/manufacture, con- signments are quickly dispersed as a security measure on the part of traffickers seeking to minimise losses arising from enforcement action,
12. Continued street level harassment has led to a dispersal of street sellers, many of whom have abandoned their fixed selling points and now operate on an erratic and highly mobile basis. Addicts are experiencing ever increasing problems and this, coupled with higher drug prices, has done much to attract them towards treatment programmes.
Cannabis And Its Derivatives
13. Although large seizures of cannabis were made during the period under review, it is believed that in most cases the drug was not intended for local consumption. Investigation indicates that individual imports of cannabis for the Hong Kong market do not normally exceed 2 kilogrammes.
Synthetic Drugs
14. The export of synthetic drugs to Japan, in particular methylamphetamine hydrochloride and ephedrine hydrochloride has continued during the second half of the year. It is, however, anticipated that amphetamines and methaqualone will be included in the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance in the near future. This will facilitate a stricter control over these chemicals and is likely to prove of assistance in containing the problem.
15. The incidence of abuse of synthetic drugs in Hong Kong remains low.
Cases And Seizures
16. (a) Cases
During 1976 a total of 13,988 separate drug offences were detected, resulting in the arrest of 12,913 persons of whom 11,294 were convicted before the courts. Appendix I provides a breakdown of these offences.
(b) Seizures
Appendix II shows the quantities of dangerous drugs seized during 1976. A total of 13,060 individual seizures were made of which 10,370 involved heroin and 1,738 opium; 293 seizures of other dangerous drugs were made and the remaining 659 involved non-dangerous drugs.
2
IN CONFIDENCE