§ 28. Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of British policy on combating the trade in illicit drugs. [117195]
§ Mr. BattleUK counter drugs activity overseas aims to reduce the availability of Class A drugs in the UK.
Co-ordinated inter-Departmental activity on agreed priorities has achieved results. Examples include increased seizures of heroin (up from 740 kg in 1996 to 990 kg in 1998) and cocaine (up from 1,150 kg in 1996 to 2,800 kg in 1998) through the work of over 50 Drug Liaison Officers in diplomatic posts overseas. Other initiatives such as the use of the West Indian Guard Ship on counter drugs work in the Caribbean have also led to major multi-tonne seizures of cocaine.