CONFIDENTIAL
XCCI(92)3
22
Enforcement strategy is to lay ambush on land. Rural observations inserted prior to operations provide intelligence on the modus operandi and identify personalities and vehicles. Ambush teams in camouflage stand by close to the operational area and when loading commences, they effect the arrest of land based smugglers and seize goods and vehicles. Marine Police assist in arresting persons/vessels leaving the area and aerial support is called upon using Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force and Military resources as necessary.
23
A major operation by the ASTF to break the smugglers' hold on Tolo Harbour commenced in February and is ongoing. Phase I forced smugglers to operate in day light hours enabling identification and photography of persons, vehicles and vessels to facilitate subsequent arrest and seizure. Phase II, which commenced on 12 April 1992 and involved the drafting in of additional Police, Customs & Excise and Military resources is intended to financially strain the syndicate through 24 hours policing of all possible loading sites in Tolo Harbour for a period of five weeks to stop the shipment of contraband. Phase III will commence if needed in the form of proactive policing of new loading sites that might start up outside Tolo Harbour. Given the current downturn in FMT sightings there are strong indications that this tactic is effective.
24
In terms of general operational measures the ASTF has, in the light of changing tactics by the smuggling syndicates, re-evaluated its own method of operation as follows -
(a) improving systems to ensure that all possible information on smuggling is gathered and collated at ASTF;
(b) regular up-to-date briefing and tasking of land and sea resources (Police/Customs & Excise/Military) to deter smuggling at known locations;
(c)
(d)
targetting of individual personalities/companies that form part of a smuggling syndicate to identify strengths and weaknesses for exploitation by appropriate Government departments (e.g. Inland Revenue);
overt action at loading sites to seize contraband before it can be loaded onto a vessel; and