IN CONFIDENCE
Importation
8. Since the previous report in the Narcotics Bureau Bulletin, 2nd Half, 1973, the pattern of imports into Hong Kong has again changed. The beginning of 1974 has seen a return to the old method of using fishing trawlers and junks to import large quantities of narcotics. However, trawlers have now been taking the precaution of transferring their drug consignments to Hong Kong vessels at a point much farther south than in the past. A transfer thus carried out several hundred miles from the Colony offers the traffickers an increased measure of security and greatly increases the difficulty of detection. The only case of significance that came to notice was the seizure of 80 packets of raw opium and 6 blocks of morphine (paragraph 31 refers). It is believed that the seizure comprised only a part of the total import, and that the remainder had been dumped on the sea-bed at a different location.
Exportation
9. No cases of significance came to notice during the period under review.
Storage/Distribution Centres
10. A number of storage/distribution centres were discovered and details of the more important cases appear at paragraphs 35-39. No unusual features were discovered at the centres located.
Synthetic Drugs
11. The situation with regard to the abuse of amphetamines and barbiturates has remained un- changed, with the same categories of persons being involved.
Cannabis and its Derivatives
12. No change has been noticed in the cannabis situation, with importation being confined to individuals bringing in small amounts for their own and their personal friends consumption. The first seizure of 'liquid cannabis' occurred in May, when a New Zealand male was arrested at Kai Tak Airport with a small amount in his possession. The drug was for his own consumption (reported at paragraph 29).
Traffic in Narcotics
Local Consumption
13. The types of dangerous drugs and the methods of consumption in Hong Kong have remained unchanged. A large percentage of heroin addicts are still engaged in the dangerous habit of injecting
No. 3 heroin.
Cases and Seizures
(a) Cases
During the period under review a total of 10,471 separate drug offences were detected, resulting in the arrest of 9,792 persons, of whom 9,567 were convicted before the courts. The schedule at Appendix I gives in detail the breakdown of offences.
(b) Seizures
The quantities of dangerous drugs seized in the Colony since January, 1974, are shown in the table at Appendix II. During the same period 7,043 individual seizures were made of which 4,111 involved heroin and 2,559 involved opium. 176 seizures involved other dangerous drugs, the remaining 197 seizures involved non-dangerous drugs. A comparison in weights of drugs seized during the corresponding periods in the last four years is shown in the graph at Appendix III.
IN CONFIDENCE
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