NARCOTICS BUREAU
104. The prevention and detection of offences connected with the unlawful manufacture, distribution and consumption of narcotics within the Colony are the responsibility of the Police Force. The Commissioner of Police is also represented on various committees convened by Government to deal with narcotic problems.
105. The Narcotics Bureau under the direction of a Senior Super- intendent of Police responsible to the Director of Criminal Investiga- tion, serves as an intelligence centre for the collection and collation of information concerning narcotics both in the Colony and overseas. It is in close touch with narcotic suppression agencies throughout the world. In September, 1968 the Bureau's commanding officer attended the Seminar on Prevention of Narcotic Crimes and Smuggling which was held in Tokyo, under the auspices of the Colombo Plan. For short periods throughout the year, four United Nations Fellows (two from South Korea and one each from Japan and Thailand) were attached to the Narcotics Bureau as was a member of the Philippines National Bureau of Investigation. They were able to familiarize them- selves with the Colony's narcotic problems and saw at first hand the work of Police engaged in narcotics law enforcement. Other visitors included the Commissioner of Police, South Australia, the Under- Secretary of the Commonwealth Office, London, and police officers from Japan and Afghanistan.
106. Police action is implemented at different levels within the Colony. The Narcotics Bureau is primarily engaged in the investigation of cases which demand specialist and protracted observation and enquiries, such as the suppression of highly organized syndicates which because of elaborate security measures on the part of the organizers defy detection by routine measures. District Narcotics Squads of the two urban District Police Headquarters, Marine Police Headquarters operate against special targets affecting distribution and consumption. At divisional level vice squads are concerned with the control of the peddling and consumption of drugs, although the prevention and detection of narcotics offences is a general duty imposed on all police officers. Close liaison is maintained with the Preventive Service through a Preventive Service Officer attached to the Narcotics Bureau.
107. During the year 17,142 narcotics offences of all types were recorded compared with 12,364 for the previous year. The increase can
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