History of Narcotics Bureau

         
         
         
         
      

In the 70's, Narcotics Bureau dismantled several significant international trafficking syndicates and seized large amounts of illegal drugs. Several notorious international traffickers were charged, convicted and eventually sentenced to lengthy prison sentences.

         
         

• Entering 1980’s, heroin continued dominating the drug market in Hong Kong
• Towards the end of the 80’s, Hong Kong was still being exploited as a transit point for heroin going to western countries
• The Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance 1989 was enacted in 1989

The 1990's was an era for abuse of psychotropic drugs at rave parties and other dance venues. Many youngsters in those entertainment venues abused psychotropic drugs, especially ecstasy tablets. Towards the start of the new millennium, ketamine appeared in Hong Kong and rapidly became one of the most commonly abused drugs among young abusers.
     
Ketamine - common packages found in disco


Ecstasy Tablets

     
   
Press conference regarding a significant seizure of ketamine and ecstasy by Narcotics Bureau

There has been a surge of new psychoactive substances (NPS) being promoted as legal stimulants, indoor cleansers, bath salts or herbal deodorants in overseas markets, and gaining popularity among drug abusers in the US and Europe. In light of this, the substances are locally being put under control of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance; examples include synthetic cannabinoids, trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine and its piperazine derivatives, cathinone and its derivatives, salvia divinorum and its active ingredient salvinorin-A, gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), methoxetamine (MXE) and its derivatives, and alpha-phenylacetoacetonitrile (APPAN).