ROYAL
HONG KONG
POLICE
IN
CONFIDENCE
Introduction
ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE
NARCOTICS BUREAU BULLETIN
2ND HALF 1973
The latter half of 1973 saw an acute shortage of narcotics in Hong Kong and an ever-increasing price spiral for drugs. This was caused primarily by a new narcotics initiative in the Thailand/ Burma/Laos border area which brought about a drastic decrease in the amounts of crude morphine and opium being exported from Thailand to Hong Kong. Concurrent with these new initiatives in Thailand and Burma, a 'Fight Violent Crime Campaign' got underway in Hong Kong and about 80% of the opium divans were effectively closed by increased enforcement action.
2. There have been reliable reports of local narcotics syndicates being unable to obtain acetic anhydride (A.A.), an essential agent for the conversion of morphine into heroin. The reason for this is not clear. However, it is an offence to import A.A. into Hong Kong without a licence, and as a result of Hong Kong's initiative in the matter A.A. was the subject of a resolution ratified at the I.C.P.O.—Interpol General Assembly meeting at Vienna at its 42nd Session in October 1973, recom- mending that countries which manufacture and export A.A. take every practical measure to prevent its export to countries where heroin is manufactured, and co-operate in efforts to monitor the move- ment of A.A. Concurrently Hong Kong requested that cargoes of A.A. in transit through the Colony be accurately manifested, and it is hoped that these measures have cut down opportunities for the illegal diversion of A.A.
3.
These shortages have had the effect of appreciably reducing the amounts of drugs seized in Hong Kong during the last few months. There are clear indications of some opium addicts turning to heroin and a greater number seeking treatment at the Government Methadone Maintenance Clinics. 4. The new initiatives in Thailand allied to Hong Kong's increased enforcement action could be leading to a change in the pattern of addiction amongst Hong Kong's addicts and to drug traffickers seeking new smuggling routes and adopting more sophisticated concealment techniques.
5.
The changing local drug situation reflected in the proceeding paragraphs has led to a reap- praisal of the role of Narcotics Bureau and to the adoption of a new posture which places greater emphasis on long-term intelligence with a view to penetrating and inflicting damage upon narcotics syndicates. Investigations along these lines have already led to the discovery and neutralizing of one large-scale heroin refinery (reported in detail at paragraph 20).
6. A number of operations were conducted during the period under review by Narcotics Bureau in conjunction with U.S. Naval authorities. These were aimed at drug sellers who operate in the 'Bar' areas of Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui and sell heroin to visiting U.S. Servicemen. A number of arrests and seizures were made, however the U.S. officers involved have reported that Hong Kong, unlike many other Asian cities and contrary to popular belief, does not have a large number of drug peddlers eager to push drugs onto visiting servicemen; it was very apparent, they said, that drugs are supplied only when specifically asked for and then at grossly inflated prices.
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