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Tsuen Wan drug cleanout
| Backup crew: SIP Tony Li and SGTs Wong King-wah and Joey Lee discuss the operation |
Intelligence, care and teamwork are important tactics in undercover operations, and Tsuen Wan District Special Duty Squad put these on fine display in three recent drug stings.
The first two, mounted from June to August and December last year respectively, saw 38 culprits jailed for up to 42 months, while the other from February to late March, saw 33 charged with trafficking and nine jailed for up to 18 months. District Operations Officer Chief Inspector William Fong Chiu-shun said the operations were conducted as the area's methadone center was attracting many addicts and traffickers.
"We found suitable undercover officers to collect evidence and the three did a good job demonstrating bravery, alertness and even acting talent," CIP Fong said.
Ah-Man, Ah-Chun and Siu-man (pseudonyms) said there were numerous keys to survival in the drug world, the former adding that the pressure was great as a minor mistake could ruin an operation: "So to become a member of their party, I rid myself of all the minor gestures officers make and studied those of drug addicts."
Ah-Chun said a top memory was essential to remember transaction details. "And another dangerous scenario was bumping into people previously arrested by us. If this happened, we had to try and stay right away from them."
The first female to pose in the district as a drug addict, Siu-man was always in a dilemma when traffickers told her to go to unknown places. "I would usually follow the traffickers, so not to alert them, and always prepare for unexpected changes and dangers."
The operation was especially challenging as she had to sit a master's degree examination during it.
Sergeants Wong King-wah and Joey Lee Wai-kuen, who supported the team, said undercovers could sometimes feel they were in a rut after several days of little progress, so the trio were given appropriate assistance when needed.
"To rejuvenate their confidence and faith we listen patiently to them and collect intelligence that can help," SGT Wong said, with SGT Lee adding: "We analyse the situation and offer possible solutions."
Officer in charge, Senior Inspector Tony Li Kam-piu said the long legal process after the operation was particularly taxing.
"However, we learned a lot from the process and were glad 97 per cent of the arrestees in our first two operations were proven guilty. It was encouraging because it proved our approach and strategy was correct," he said.