322 Public Order
In 2011, besides conducting seven professional certification courses on technology crime investigation techniques and computer forensic examinations, the TCD had also organised an INTERPOL Train-the-trainer Workshop on IT Crime Investigation in Hong Kong and sent an expert to Korea to train the trainers from the Asia and South Pacific Region.
Dangerous Drugs
Tackling youth drug abuse continued to be a priority of the Police Force in 2011. The Police Force strengthened its role in preventive education and anti-drug publicity. Intelligence-led operations against drug traffickers, particularly those that exploit minors and juveniles, intensified. During the year, a total of five drug traffickers had their sentences increased by the courts for employing young persons to traffic drugs.
The majority of arrests were in respect of ketamine. There was a substantial increase in the amount of cocaine seized, with some large seizures at wholesale level in two individual cases. One of the cases involved, the seizure of 567 kilogrammes of cocaine was a record for a single seizure of the drug. The large seizures are a direct result of a series of successful intelligence-led operations.
The majority of drugs manufacturing cases detected in 2011 involved the conversion of cocaine powder into what is commonly known as 'crack'. A total of 12 premises, engaged in this illicit business, was shut down.
The Narcotics Bureau (NB) continued to collaborate with its Mainland and overseas counterparts to tackle cross-boundary and transnational trafficking. These efforts led to substantial drug seizures and the dismantling of drug production sites outside Hong Kong. A total of 2 734.6 kilogrammes of illicit drugs plus 123.4 kilogrammes of precursor chemicals were seized in the Mainland and overseas. A total of 18 illicit drug manufacturing plants in the Asian region were also dismantled.
Financial Investigation
During the year, both the Financial Investigations Division and the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit (JFIU) under the NB carried out operations against money laundering and terrorist financing activities. A total of 96 people were convicted of money laundering. Some $2,457 million worth of assets belonging to criminals was impounded and around $69 million of laundered money was confiscated.
The Police continued to take part in local and international meetings on anti- money laundering. In addition to training conducted locally, officers of the JFIU joined forces with the Malaysian Financial Intelligence Unit in carrying out the Asia Pacific Group Typology Project of 'Money Laundering associated with Large-scale Transnational Frauds'. The project's objectives were to examine the scope of the issue, identify trends, indicators and enhance international co-operation, and to provide measures to counter money-laundering activities.