§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts of illegal drugs have been seized by Customs and Excise in Devon and Cornwall over the last five years.[73651]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 1 March 1999]: Over the last five financial years (up to and including 24 February 1999), Customs and Excise has seized some 31,625 kgs of illegal drugs in Devon and Cornwall.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to increase the level of Class B drug seizures by Customs and Excise in Devon and Cornwall over the next two years. [73654]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 1 March 1999]: Customs measure their effectiveness in the fight against drugs smuggling by concentrating on the drugs prevented from entering the UK and on the number of trafficking organisations disrupted and dismantled rather than on the level of seizures and the Department does not, therefore, plan on the basis of seizures made either nationally or locally.