TNAG-0820-FCO40-1027-Narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 93

Variations in the manufacture of heroin

The manufacture of heroin can be compared with domestic cooking. Al- though the cook must adhere to the basic recipe and procedure, there is room for individual style resulting in variations in the strength, taste and colour of the product. To produce a heroin acceptable to the addicts of Hong Kong, a chemist must adhere to the basic procedure and chemicals listed in the manufacturing processes outlined in this booklet. However, it must be emphasised that numerous variations can and do exist. No two heroin factories are identical, and a comparison of heroin 'recipes' found in the possession of arrested heroin chemists shows individual preferences in both method, equipment and chem- icals. A translation of one heroin chemist's recipe is on Page 27. Before the incorporation of additives and diluents, No. 3 heroin normally has a purity of about 60–70 per cent. Since the apparent halt in the local manufacture of the high quality No. 4. heroin, it has not been uncommon to encounter a finished product of this purity. Such heroin is generally found in relatively small quantities in heroin factories producing No. 3, and is prob- ably intended for the personal con- sumption of the chemist and his assistants.

Diacetylmorphine (Ester of Morphine)

Several cases were detected in 1976 of attempts to smuggle diacetylmorphine base (ester of morphine) into Hong Kong from Thailand. This diacetyl- morphine had a purity of about 50 per cent, which is considerably higher than the average purity of diacetyl- morphine hydrochloride (heroin) con- sumed in Hong Kong. The process of converting diacetylmorphine into diacetylmorphine hydrochloride is fairly simple and obviously involves less time and risk of detection than does the entire heroin manufacturing process. (See section on Manufactur- ing).

The economic advantage of smuggling a relatively pure drug combined with the simplicity of conversion into marketable heroin could result in con- tinued attempts to import diacetyl- morphine.

The Dilution of No. 3 Heroin A serious heroin shortage in 1975 and 1976 resulted in the widespread ‘cut- ting' of No. 3 heroin at wholesale level. The method used was to mix caffeine, paracetamol and ephedrine hydrochloride with water to form a paste. No. 3 heroin was then diluted in water and added to this paste which was dried and sieved into granules. The heroin diluted in this manner had an average purity of approximately 21 per cent.

A typical scene in a heroin factory

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