§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) heroin, (b) cocaine and (c) synthetic drug seizures have been made in the (i) last and (ii) preceding 12 months; [105322]
(2) what was the average weight of (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) cannabis, (d) synthetic drugs and (e) all controlled drugs in seizures (i) in the last and (ii) in the preceding 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [105323]
553W
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeIn 1997, the last year for which published figures are available, the number and average weights of selected drugs seized by police and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise were as given in the table. It is not meaningful to calculate the average weight of all drug seizures. Further figures on drug seizures in 1997 were published in April 1999 in Home Office Statistical Bulletin No 8–99 "Drug seizure and offender statistics, United Kingdom, 1997". Figures for 1998 will be published in February 2000, copies of which will be placed in the Library.
Number and average weight of seizures by police and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise of selected drugs in 1997 Number of seizures Average quantity seized Drug Police Customs Police Customs Heroin 12,311 163 40 grams 10,719 grams Cocaine 3,068 684 91 grams 3,038 grams LSD 831 20 195 doses 86 doses Ecstasy-type 4,996 91 93 doses 16,056 doses Cannabis (herbal) 25,703 3,684 323 grams 6,197 grams Cannabis (resin) 77,111 2,135 841 grams 25,304 grams Cannabis (plants) 3,783 1 30 plants 40 plants Amphetamine 18,429 146 128 grams 6,405 grams Note:
"Synthetic drug" has been taken to mean the following— Amphetamine, LSD, and Ecstasy-type drugs
Source:
Home Office Drugs Research and Statistics Section