§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many drug seizures from foreign vessels have been made in Scottish waters since 1995; [70635]
(2) what the weight of drug seizures from foreign vessels caught in Scottish waters has been in each year since 1995, broken down by type of drug. [70636]
§ John Healey[holding answer 18 July 2002]: Since 1995, HM Customs and Excise have made 58 seizures from UK and foreign flagged vessels in international and UK waters. Of these, three were made from foreign vessels in Scottish waters. Two of the three seizures were made in 1998, one from a German and one from an Irish vessel. The third seizure was made in 2000, from a Maltese vessel. A total of 80 kilograms of amphetamine, 120 tonnes of cannabis, 14 and a half tonnes of cocaine, and 25 kilograms of heroin were seized as a result of these 58 cases. The three seizures in Scottish waters resulted in the recovery of 17 tonnes of cannabis.