TNAG-0416-FCO40-462-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 26

19/1

D IN

RCLAY M6.51 TO JUN1973

HXX14/

J I P Hennessy Esq

SEAD

FCO

Dear Jife,

NARCOTICS

13

5

Iw

بع

BRITISH EMBASSY

RANGOON

7 June 1972

FAB19/1

106

Pl. egy

HKIOD for info then entes AM 1116

1 In his letter 19/1 of 17 May 1973 the Ambassador mentioned that he was convinced that the Burmese are now really trying to tackle the narcotics problem.

.2

We have since received further evidence of this from secret sources which report that a round-up of Chinese suspected of being involved in narcotics took place at the weekend.

3 According to this report a co-ordinated operation - codenamed "Twisted Dragon" - which was launched throughout Burma in the early hours of 3 June has resulted in the arrest of more than 150 Chinese who are on record as leaders of pro- KMT organisations or as supporters of insurgent groups believed to be connected with the narcotics trade. In Rangoon alone there have already been nearly 90 arrests and more are expected to follow.

4 This round up is unlikely to stop the recsics traffic. But it should on least compl ouse Life

for the traffickorE.