§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the potential of exchange controls as a means of limiting the ability of 79W criminals, and in particular drug dealers, to move money out of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorWe do not consider that the imposition of exchange controls would be suitable for this purpose. Comprehensive provision for attacking the proceeds of drug trafficking is made in the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986. This Act will require the Crown Court to confiscate a convicted drug trafficker's proceeds; will allow the restraint of suspected trafficker's property to prevent assets being concealed or transferred out of the jurisdiction; and opens the way to agreements between the United Kingdom and other countries enabling proceeds to be recovered from abroad. The Criminal Justice Bill now before this House contains similar provisions in relation to other forms of serious and profitable crime.