§ Mr. FavellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the operation of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe powers in the Act to trace, freeze and confiscate assets are proving an effective new weapon against drug trafficking. During the first year of operation of the Act the High Court made over 150 orders freezing some £7 million pounds of suspected drug traffickers' assets. The Crown court has ordered some substantial sums to be confiscated, including £452,000 in one case last month. We are seeking reciprocal agreements with other countries so as to make the most effective use of these powers: the first such agreement, with the United States of America, was signed on 9 February.