1
O.F. 323
4
Ref. .: NB/S/79/1
કરો ક મ યા ધ ધ ધ
Narcotics Bureau,
Royal Hong Kong Police.
27th November, 1974.
Introduction
The Drug Situation in Hong Kong
An Assessment in the light of Recent Operations
In November 1973 Hong Kong experienced a temporary but acute shortage of narcotics on the illicit market; this was primarily attributable to external factors, a clampdown on drug trafficking in Thailand forcing a curtailment of the Thai trawler supply route, and was further aggravated by a large drug seizure in Hong Kong by N.B. in mid-October. A similar acute shortage of drugs may well be develop- ing now; on this occasion however it has been brought about by local enforcement action and the results may be very much more significant and long-lasting. This paper attempts to examine briefly the background to the present situation and to assess its possible implications,
Enforcement Action, 1974
2.
1974 has been an extremely successful year from the point of view of anti-narcotics action. So far five heroin refineries have been neutralised and 9 chemists arrested, three large opium/morphine stores were discovered, two large consignments were seized as they were about to be landed and two acetic anhydride factories have been neutralised, In addition to this four sizeable seizures of acetic anhydride wore made. 21 high-level syndicate personalities have been arrested, exclusive of those arrested as a result of Operation BARFORD (see paras. 5-11 below). Total seizures during the year, and a comparison with 1973, are as follows (all weights in kilos) :-
1973
1974
Value (1974)
Opium
2323.0
4470.407
$29,500,000
Morphine
459.41
312.71
$34,700,000
Heroin
179.3
256.6
$9,500,000
Total $63,700,000
3.
The pressure upon the syndicates has been particularly severe during the latter half of the year, with six major seizures since June virtually one per month. This brought about a steady but very noticeable shortage of opium, morphine and heroin and consequently wholesale prices, while fluctuating to a certain extent on a day-to-day basis, have over the year shown a considerable upward spiral as shown below :-
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