Official figures released by principal investigator Ho Tai Meng of the Judiciary Police (PJ) on Sunday showed that the number of teenagers arrested for drug-related crimes in has increased year-on-year.
Addressing an anti-drug seminar, Ho said the police will regularly inspect places where teenagers tend to congregate such as amusement arcades and cyber cafes.
Several dozen people including representatives from local youth associations, anti-smoking groups and the City University of Macau, as well as Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) officials and PJ officers attended the seminar organised by the Macau Health Promotion Association.
Addressing the seminar, Ho said that 120 people were arrested for selling drugs, taking drugs and other drug-related crimes in the first four months of this year, including five teenagers.
Ho also said that in the same period last year 127 people were arrested for drug-related cases including four teenagers.
The investigator also said that last year PJ officers busted 129 drug-related cases, resulting in the arrests of 306 people including 16 teenagers. In 2014 there were 207 such cases and 345 people were apprehended, including four teenagers.
“The figures show a slight increase…regarding the places where drug traffickers often look for possible clients such as karaoke bars, discos and night clubs, and entertainment venues that are popular with teenagers, the police will regularly inspect them,” Ho said, adding that every summer holiday the Judiciary Police’s anti-crime youth team conveys their anti-drug message in different neighbourhoods.
Ho also said the Judiciary Police would further strengthen intelligence exchanges with its counterparts in Hong Kong as the number of drug-related crimes involving Hong Kong residents has risen recently.
(Macau News / The Macau Post Daily)
