HC Deb 30 November 1995 vol 267 c1326
13. Mr. Spring

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to tackle the international trade in illegal drug trafficking.[1367]

Mr. Howard

The Government are committed to vigorous action at home and abroad to tackle international drug trafficking and other serious organised crime. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister recently announced a series of measures to improve law enforcement in that field, including a role for the Security Service in support of the police. We are also pursuing, with our European partners, an international initiative to improve drug interdiction in the eastern Caribbean.

Mr. Spring

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that if illegal drug trafficking is to be combated, a high level of international co-operation will be required? Is he aware of the success of Operation De Niro which, with considerable British help, resulted in 88 arrests world wide and the seizure of $52 million, $11 million-worth of paintings and 9 tonnes of cocaine?

Mr. Howard

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend, and I am grateful to him for giving the House that example. The resources available to many of the organisations that are involved in international drug trafficking are far in excess of those available to a number of nation states. International co-operation, in which we play a prominent part, is essential if we are to combat the activities of those organisations effectively.

Mr. Bermingham

Does the Home Secretary agree that one of the problems involved in fighting crime such as drug trafficking is the fact that Great Britain is an island? Does he agree that the fact that the Government have cut the number of drug enforcement and customs officers and the number of officers available to both coastguards and others, has not really helped to stop the importation of drugs?

Mr. Howard

I entirely reject the hon. Gentleman's allegations. We are now concentrating on more effective measures—particularly the use of intelligence—so that we can target the offenders and deal effectively with this menace.