XN000022-1989-05-16 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1989

A TOTAL OF 435 HONG KONG RESIDENTS WERE DETAINED OVERSEAS FOR DRUG OFFENCES DURING THE

1979 TO 1988.

KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN 10-YEAR PERIOD FROM

LAST

MR MULLOY SAID THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS HAD INCREASED IN THE TWO YEARS 80 IN 1987 AND 87 IN 1988, AGAINST 40 AND 27 IN 1985 AND 1986.

IN

"MORE THAN 130 HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE DETAINED OR IMPRISONED 22 COUNTRIES FOR PR OFFERTES AS AT MARCH 31 THIS YEAR. HE SAID.

"OVER TWO THIRDS OF THEM ARE IN THAILAND, FRANCE, JAPAN, THE U.S.A. AND THE NETHERLANDS.

THE COMMISSIONER GAVE THE FOLLOWING ADVICE TO TRAVELLERS:

*

DON'T CAREY PACKAGES OR BAGGAGE FOR ANYONE UNLESS ABSOLUTELY SURE THEY CONTAIN NO ILLICIT DRUGS OR OTHER PROHIBITED ITEMS,

DON'T BELIEVE PEOPLE WHO SAY "IT IS ALRIGHT OR LEGAL TO USE DRUGS OVER THERE". ALL COUNTRIES PROHIBIT ILLICIT DRUG USE.

DON'T BELIEVE PEOPLE WHO TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT THE TYPE THE CUSTOMS GO FOR.

DO REPORT TO THE POLICE OR THE CUSTOMS IF A POSSIBLE DRUG-CARRYING DEAL IS PUT TO YOU. THE SYNDICATE WILL GET THE PROFIT; YOU WILL TAKE THE RISK.

THE COMMISSIONER ALSO STRESSED THE HARD LINE THAT THE LAW TOOK IN HONG KONG AGAINST TRAFFICKING

THE MAXIMUM PENALTY OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $5 MILLION.

EVEN PERSONS FOUND IN ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A SMALL QUANTITY OF DANGEROUS DRUGS ARE LIABLE TO THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $10,000.

MR MULLOY APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC TO CALL THE POLICE NARCOTICS BUREAU ON 5-271234 OR THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE ON 5-456182 OR 5-8521437 IF THEY SUSPECTED THAT ANY PERSON WAS A DRUG TRAFFICKER.

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