§ Sir Bernard BraineTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps have been taken, or are contemplated, to ensure there will be no loosening of control by Customs and Excise at ports of entry after the introduction of the single European market for as long as international trafficking in illegal drugs continues.
§ Mr. LawsonI envisage a continuing role for Customs and Excise after 1992 in countering drugs smuggling through all ports of entry to the United Kingdom.
§ Sir Bernard BraineTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of amphetamines, cannabis, heroin, cocaine and other illegal drugs seized by Customs and Excise and the police in 1986, 1987 and to the latest convenient date in 1988 were transported from elsewhere in the EC; and if he will state the quantities seized in each case and the countries from which they had been shipped.
§ Mr. LawsonThe following table shows drugs seized by Customs and Excise at the internal frontier with other EC countries. A breakdown by specific country could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Comparable figures for police seizures are not available.
541W542W
United Kingdom seizures of drugs coming from or via EC countries by weight and per cent. of total drugs seizures 1986 1987 January-June 19881 Kg Per cent. Kg Per cent. Kg Per cent. Cannabis Resin 7,014.061 64.6 5,840.794 78.8 2,835.048 23.5 Herbal Cannabis 953.038 8.3 927.507 10.5 Heroin 23.881 13.3 35.277 18.8 23.004 23.7 Cocaine 49.792 50.2 85.714 23.8 92.699 50.5 Amphetamine 29.492 100 16.436 99.1 0.794 63.9 1 1988 figures are still provisional.