ENG-2002 — Page 376

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PUBLIC ORDER

sustained enforcement action would be necessary before the trend would substantially reverse. During the year, the force recorded some impressive results in operations to prevent psychotropic substances from reaching the predominantly young abusers. Coordinated territory-wide crackdowns against psychotropic substances continued to be effective. Cooperation with Mainland and Macau counterparts by exchanging information and coordinating operations resulted in the seizure of substantial amounts of psychotropic substances and the arrests of numerous traffickers. In 2002, a total of 2 357 persons were arrested for offences connected to ketamine and 646 were arrested in cases related to 'ecstasy'-type tablets.

In operations targeting narcotic drugs, the force seized a total of 105.78 kilograms of heroin and dismantled six heroin attenuation centres. The amount of heroin seized was affected by the changing drug abuse trends, for example the prevalence of ketamine, and also because some substantial seizures were made outside Hong Kong, along the trafficking routes to the SAR. Officers also neutralised numerous premises used as divans where heroin was being sold and abused. Traffickers and abusers have switched to this method of supplying and using the drug on account of stringent enforcement by police at street-level 'black spots'.

Police seized 63.83 kilograms of ketamine, 306.79 kilograms of herbal cannabis, 45 544 'ecstasy'-type tablets and 41.14 kilograms of methamphetamine ('ice'). Throughout the year, officers continued to seize tablets that were purported to be 'ecstasy' but contained a mixture of drugs such as methamphetamine, ketamine and clozapine. A small amount of Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB), an illegally produced sedative-hypnotic, was also seized.

In 2002, the number of persons arrested for drug offences totalled 9 413, compared with 10 077 in 2001. Of those arrested, 1 456 were aged 16 to 20 years and 121 were aged under 16. Compared with 2001 there was a 27 per cent decrease in the number of arrested persons aged under 21. Throughout the year, the Narcotics Bureau and Regional counterparts continued their efforts to enhance the Police Force's drug abuse prevention work, which is especially aimed at young persons.

Numerous financial investigations to recover the proceeds of drug trafficking were pursued. In total, $3.45 million was surrendered to the Government to fulfil outstanding confiscation orders. In addition, $23 million was restrained pending confiscation. Both local and international money laundering continued to be the subject of vigorous investigation.

Crime Prevention

The Crime Prevention Bureau continued to provide a public advisory service and 26 019 security surveys were conducted for the public and private sectors.

The bureau continued its educational role through campaigns and seminars, its call-fax and web-page services and the deployment of the Robotcop and the crime prevention bus. Moreover, 1 631 anti-street deception campaigns were held. The bureau also deals with the day-to-day inspection of over 900 security companies and provides briefings to new companies. Guidelines and checklists, such as General Guidelines to Prevent Bank Robberies and Check Lists for Alarm Inspection, are issued to assist relevant professions to prevent crime.