HC Deb 10 December 1996 vol 287 cc158-9W
Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the West Indies Guardship in inhibiting the flow of drugs from South America. [7951]

Mr. Soames

In addition to her other duties, the West Indies Guardship—WIGS—together with her Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker, makes a very considerable and valuable contribution to the international fight against drug trafficking in the Caribbean, which is one of the major trafficking routes for drugs from South America. WIGS has, in recent years, been directly involved in the interception of substantial amounts of illegal drugs in the region.