§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of illegal drug seizures at points of entry to the UK in each of the past five years; and what the observed effect was on the street prices of illegal drugs. [2370]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 9 July 2001]: It is not possible to provide data on the total street value of all drug types seized by HM Customs and Excise at points of entry to the UK over the last five years which could be directly compared with the data available on street prices. The most comprehensive available data are for heroin and cocaine. Information relating to seizures for 2000–01 is not yet available.
The total value of heroin and cocaine seized by HM Customs and Excise in the four financial years from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 2000 is as follows:
£ million 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 Heroin £66.9 £156.8 £66.7 £96.7 Cocaine £294.1 £242.1 £279.7 £150.7 Total £361.0 £398.9 £346.4 £247.4 Between 1996 and 2000 the UK average street price for cocaine varied between £65 and £77 per gram, while the average price for heroin varied between £65 and £74. There is no direct correlation between variations in street price and the value of seizures.
183WStreet prices can vary for a number of reasons. While law enforcement activity can have an impact, factors such as variances in the yield of drug crops, consumption trends, drug purity levels and stockpiling by distributors can also affect the price of drugs on the street.