13pc rise in youngsters arrested over serious narcotics offences

More young people were arrested for serious narcotics offences in the first eight months of the year as law enforcement agencies stepped up the battle against drugs, according to the Fight Crime Committee.

A total of 849 juveniles and young people were arrested from January to last month, 13 per cent more than the same period last year, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong said yesterday.

Over the same period, the number of serious drug offences increased 5.93 per cent to 2,091 cases. More drugs were seized as customs stepped up measures against drugs, the security chief said.

'In the first eight months, there was an increase in seizures of drugs, except cannabis,' Lee said. They include ketamine, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and Ecstasy.

Ketamine saw the most dramatic increase - 287kg was seized, an increase of 250 per cent. Next came Ecstasy, with 11,329 tablets seized, an increase of 122.7 per cent.

Apart from starting voluntary drug tests in Tai Po schools in December, the government aims to roll out a consultation on compulsory drug tests by the end of this year or early next year. Lee said schools, the legal profession and social workers were among sectors that the government would seek advice from.

The number of people under 21 arrested for all crimes rose by 1.37 per cent from 6,121 to 6,205.