ENG-1994 — Page 363

PUBLIC ORDER

major enforcement arm of the department, and launches proactive investigations and surveillance operations against syndicated drug trafficking activities throughout the territory. The strategy against drug offenders is directed at all levels, including the import, export, manufacturing, distribution and peddling of dangerous drugs.

During the year, the department cracked 38 drug syndicates, with the neutralisation of 16 heroin-attenuating centres and 20 heroin storage centres. The department prosecuted 1 069 persons for various drug offences and seized 78.6 kilograms of heroin, 5.2 kilograms of cocaine, 8.7 kilograms of opium and 1 048.9 kilograms of cannabis.

Recognising the importance of attacking drug trafficking at the international level, the department exchanges intelligence and closely co-operates with overseas customs administrations and other law enforcement agencies. In July, as a result of an investigation jointly launched by the department and the United States authorities, two persons were arrested and 0.9 kilograms of heroin were seized in the United States. In another investigation jointly conducted with the Customs and Excise Department of the United Kingdom, the department arrested three persons and seized 2.2 kilograms of cocaine in the same month.

Recovery of Drug Trafficking Proceeds

Another important strategy in the war against drug trafficking is to deprive drug offenders of the enjoyment of their ill-gotten gains and to prevent them from using such gains for financing further drug trafficking business. The department is among the agencies responsible for enforcing the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance, which is an effective tool to trace, restrain and confiscate assets derived from drug trafficking.

During the year, the department successfully obtained six court orders to restrain $3.8 million worth of assets suspected to be the proceeds of drug trafficking and four court orders to confiscate $8.8 million in drug proceeds. In addition, through co-operative arrangements and joint investigations launched with overseas law enforcement agencies, $230 million worth of drug-related assets were restrained in the United States.

Anti-smuggling and Import and Export Controls

In 1994, the department detected 370 smuggling cases under the Import and Export Ordinance, arrested 629 persons and seized $335.5 million worth of goods.

During the year, there were significant changes in smuggling trends between Hong Kong and China. Stronger legislative measures and the enforcement efforts of the Joint Police/ Customs Anti-smuggling Task Force effectively curtailed the problem of smuggling using high-powered speedboats. However, smugglers were increasingly resorting to the use of false declarations or false compartments in containers to evade customs detection. With its heavy traffic, the land border continued to be a popular route for the smuggling of electrical appliances, computer parts, communications equipment and stolen vehicles into China. In 1994, 79 cases of smuggling were detected at the land border control points and 40 vehicles used for smuggling were seized.

The smuggling of high-value antiques from China to Hong Kong through the land border reached a new high in 1994, with $52.8 million worth of antiques seized by the department. A legislative amendment — the Import and Export (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance was introduced in March to provide for heavier sentences for smuggling offences. Under the

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