PUBLIC ORDER
The department continued its vigorous enforcement action against illicit cigarettes. During the year, 4 540 offenders were arrested and 152.6 million sticks were seized, an increase of 74 per cent and a decrease of 16 per cent, respectively, over 2002. The decline in the quantities of illicit cigarettes seized was attributed to the department's effectiveness in combating illicit cigarette activities, causing distributors and peddlers to reduce stock.
Illicit fuel including marked oil (commonly known as 'red oil'), detreated oil and illicit motor spirit continued to be used illegally as fuel for vehicles. To tackle the problem, in addition to enforcement action taken at sea and land boundaries sustained operations were mounted to eliminate filling stations, detreating plants and storage places for such fuel. Surprise checks were also conducted to detect the use of illicit fuel in road vehicles.
Resulting from the department's vigorous enforcement action, the number of 'black spots' for illicit fuel activities continued to be restricted to around 27. The department closed 897 illicit oil filling stations, 22 detreating plants and 32 storage places. A total of 974 persons were arrested. Altogether, 2.42 million litres of various types of illicit fuel, valued at $17.93 million, were seized. The duty potential of the seized illicit fuel amounted to $9.27 million, an increase of 18.4 per cent compared with 2002.
Anti-narcotics Operations
The department continued to take vigorous enforcement action to prevent and suppress the unlawful manufacture, distribution and trafficking of dangerous drugs, and to trace, confiscate and recover proceeds accrued in illegal drug activities. It also enforces the Control of Chemicals Ordinance, which aims at preventing the diversion of chemicals for illicit manufacture of dangerous drugs and psychotropic substances. The Customs Drug Investigation Bureau is the department's major investigative arm in combating illicit drugs. The bureau's main functions are to conduct investigations and surveillance to combat illegal manufacture, trafficking or use of drugs. In addition, the department works closely with the Police Force and various drug enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions in exchanging intelligence and arresting drug criminals.
In 2003, the department dealt with 61 drug trafficking cases, and neutralised one heroin attenuating centre and eight drug distribution centres. Officers seized 12.7 kilograms of heroin, 4.3 kilograms of herbal cannabis, 13.7 kilograms of cannabis. resin, 7.3 kilograms of cocaine, 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine ('ice'), 12.2 kilograms of ketamine, 51 141 tablets of MDMA ('ecstasy') and 29 680 tablets of other psychotropic drugs. A total of 723 persons were arrested for drug-related offences. The department participated in joint operations with international drug enforcement agencies. As a result, 1 533 kilograms of various types of drugs were seized and 27 traffickers arrested in such joint operations overseas.
Boundary Control
In 2003, vehicular traffic movements through the three control points at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok increased by 6.1 per cent to 13.18 million compared with 2002.
The Lok Ma Chau Control Point Expansion Project Phase II was completed in the third quarter of 2003. Improvement works covered the expansion of the passenger terminal, improvement of the cargo examination facilities, reprovisioning of the
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