TNAG-0418-FCO40-464-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 42

ROYAL

POLICE

HONG

KONG

IN CONFIDENCE

ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE

NARCOTICS BUREAU BULLETIN

1ST HALF, 1973

Introduction

On the 7th and 8th June, 1973, important informal discussions about the entire gamut of the dangerous drugs problem in the Far East as it affects the United Kingdom, United States of America and Hong Kong took place in Hong Kong. Senior Government officers from the U.K., U.S.A. and Hong Kong had wide ranging talks to develop ideas and improve existing law enforcement measures in an attempt to get to grips more effectively with drug trafficking in the Far East.

It has been reliably reported during the past few weeks that there is an acute shortage of crude morphine in Hong Kong. We cannot attribute this shortage to anything in particular, however the recent large seizures off South Vietnam together with increased local successes are thought to be partly responsible.

An interesting case recently came to light involving a possible attempt to export heroin in pro- cessed meat tins. This is reported in detail at Annexure IV Case No. 14.

The Narcotics Bureau Quarterly was produced originally to reflect the changing pattern of drug trafficking and to advise readers of other related matters which were thought to be of interest. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable material to fill the bulletin every quarter, therefore further editions will be published only twice a year.

Manufacture

Since January 1973, two heroin manufacturing centres were discovered by the Narcotics Bureau and the Preventive Service. In one case (Annexure IV Case No. 1) the centre was manufacturing No. 4 heroin. This was of particular interest because it was the first time since 1970 that a factory producing No. 4 heroin had been discovered. The second case (Annexure IV Case No. 2) is also significant because barbitone was being mixed with the heroin in the factory. This is a departure from normal practice. In the past barbitone was usually purchased separately by the addict.

Importation

There has been no significant change in the pattern of imports into Hong Kong. The most common method of importing large quantities of opium and crude morphine into the Colony is still by way of fishing trawlers and junks. Occasionally however airline passengers smuggle in small amounts of heroin or morphine and minute amounts of cannabis.

Exportation

The only case of significance that came to notice was the possible attempt to export heroin in processed meat tins. This case is fully reported at Annexure IV Case No. 14.

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