ENG-1980 — Page 185

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Anti-Narcotics Operations

PUBLIC ORDER

The service is responsible for the prevention and suppression of illicit trafficking in narcotics, other dangerous drugs and acetylating substances under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance and the Acetylating Substances (Control) Ordinance. More than half of the service is committed to anti-narcotics activities. Apart from inter- cepting illegal imports by sea and air, action is also taken against drug manufacturing, trafficking and smoking of drugs on land. The service has maintained close liaison and co-operation with overseas customs authorities and other law enforcement agencies in many parts of the world in an effort to combat drug trafficking and abuse. Much closer links have also been established locally with the Narcotics Bureau of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force for the purpose of combined operations and exchanging information and intelligence.

Considerable success has been achieved by the Joint Intelligence Unit formed at Hong Kong International Airport in July, 1979. Comprising two mixed teams of police and customs officers, the unit is able to combine the expertise of the two enforcement agencies in gathering information and intelligence on drug trafficking by air. Since its inception, the unit has arrested 11 drug couriers, in addition to fulfilling its intelligence role.

During the year, anti-narcotics operations led to the seizure of 175 kilograms of dangerous drugs - including 27 kilograms of heroin and 38 of heroin base. A total of 767 people were arrested for narcotics offences, of whom 579 were charged with possession for personal use or with smoking dangerous drugs. The illicit market value of the narcotics seized was estimated at more than $74 million.

Copyright Protection

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The Customs and Excise Service is the sole agency responsible for enforcing the Copyright Ordinance. Despite the relatively short history of the Copyright Protection Unit -- which is responsible for detecting and suppressing the manufacture and distribution of un- authorised copies of literary, dramatic and musical works excellent results have been achieved and the service has earned international acclaim in its field. During the year, the unit conducted 36 operations in connection with copyright infringement, resulting in the seizure of 83 tape recorders, 10 records, 5,160 pirated tapes, and 6,101 pirated books. A total of 24 people were convicted for various copyright offences and fines amounting to $48,350 were imposed by the courts.

Training

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The Customs and Excise Training School at Tai Lam Chung in the New Territories is equipped with a wide range of facilities including a gymnasium, a swimming pool, an obstacle course and a firing range. It also has a museum displaying a variety of ingenious smuggling devices, narcotics paraphernalia and illicit distilling apparatus. Since it opened in 1974, the school has been used by other agencies, such as the United Nations, for a variety of courses and seminars.

The school provides training courses for new appointees entering as customs officers or inspectors. These courses cover the full range of basic duties, and such ancillary training as first-aid, life-saving, unarmed combat and the correct use and care of firearms. The school also runs specialist courses in prosecution techniques, driving, supervisory develop- ment and skin-diving. It also provides refresher training for officers whose knowledge of law and customs working procedures needs to be brought up-to-date. During the year, 188 recruits and 185 serving officers received training at the school.