FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1982
* TO PERMIT A SEARCH OF BODY CAVITIES OF A SUSPECTED DRUG COURIER WITH OR WITHOUT CONSENT AND TO EXTEND THE LEGAL PROTECTION TO A DOCTOR IN CONDUCTING SUCH A SEARCH.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NARCOTICS DIVISION EXPLAINED TODAY THAT 'MANUFACTURE' OF DANGEROUS DRUGS, AS DEFINED UNDER THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, DOES NOT APPLY TO CASES WHERE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A PROCESS OF CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF ANOTHER SUBSTANCE OR SUBSTANCES
INTO A DANGEROUS DRUG AS IN THE CASE OF 'DILUTING' OR 'CUTTING' HEROIN BASE OR ITS SALTS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IN RECENT YEARS DRUG TRAFFICKERS HAD BEEN IMPORTING INCREASING AMOUNTS OF HEROIN BASE INTO HONG KONG BECAUSE OF ITS HIGHER VALUE BUT LOWER BULK THAN OPIUM OR MORPHINE.
+A FURTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE PREVALENCE OF TRAFFICKING IN HEROIN BASE IS THAT THE PREPARATION OF THE MOST COMMONLY USED SALT OF HEROIN FROM HEROIN BASE IS A QUICKER, SIMPLER AND CLEANER PROCESS THAN THE CUMBERSOME, SMELLY AND OFTEN DANGEROUS METHOD OF MANUFACTURING HEROIN FROM MORPHINE USING ACETYLATING SUBSTANCES, WHICH HAS BEEN USED IN LOCAL CLANDESTINE LABORATORIES IN THE PAST, HE ADDED.
UNDER THE BILL, THE DEFINITION OF MANUFACTURE' OF DANGEROUS DRUGS WILL BE BROADENED TO INCLUDE MAKING, ADULTERATING, PURIFYING, MIXING, SEPARATING OR OTHERWISE TREATING A DANGEROUS DRUG.
+THIS WILL ALLOW A CHARGE OF MANUFACTURE TO BE LAID IN CASES INVOLVING EQUIPMENT AND PARAPHERNALIA REFERABLE ONLY TO THE 'DILUTING' OR 'CUTTING' OF DRUGS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE BILL ALSO MAKES IT CLEAR THAT PROSECUTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE CAN BE INSTITUTED IN A CASE INVOLVING A MINUTE QUANTITY OF DANGEROUS DRUG WHETHER OR NOT MEASURABLE OR USABLE.
+WHETHER PROSECUTION ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN WHERE ONLY TRACES OF DRUGS ARE FOUND WILL OF COURSE STILL DEPEND ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF INDIVIDUAL CASES, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO GIVE LEGAL PROTECTION TO A DOCTOR ENGAGED BY THE POLICE OR CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE TO CONDUCT SEARCHES OF BODY CAVITIES OF A SUSPECTED DRUG COURIER.
THE BILL, IF ENACTED, WILL ENABLE A DOCTOR WHO IS A PUBLIC OFFICER, AT THE REQUEST OF A POLICE OFFICER OR A MEMBER OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE, TO CONDUCT A BODY CAVITY SEARCH, WITH OR WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE SUSPECT AND TO PROTECT THE DOCTOR FROM CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITIES. HOWEVER, IF A FEMALE SUSPECT IS SEARCHED BY A DOCTOR, IT MUST BE CONDUCTED IN THE PRESENCE OF A FEMALE OFFICER.
IN ADDITION, PROVISION WILL ALSO BE MADE FOR THE DETENTION OF SUSPECTED PERSONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCH SEARCHES.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THERE IS A GROWING TREND IN DRUG SMUGGLING WHEREBY CONSIDERABLE QUANTITIES OF DRUGS ARE CONCEALED IN BODY CAVITIES OF COURIERS.
SINCE JANUARY 1980, 31 PERSONS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AT KAI TAK AIRPORT WITH DRUGS CONCEALED INSIDE THE IR BODIES.
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