U.S. Department of State
1997 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, March 1998
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Europe and Central Asia
UNITED KINGDOM
I. Summary
The United Kingdom (UK) is a consumer country of illicit drugs. It
produces and exports many precursor and essential chemicals that could be
used to manufacture illicit drugs. It strictly enforces national precursor
chemical legislation in compliance with EU regulations. British financial
institutions have been vulnerable to money laundering, but implementation
of tougher money laundering legislation appears to have reduced
vulnerability throughout the Crown Territories. Nevertheless, the Channel
Islands and the Isle of Man have offshore banking facilities that are
attractive to drug funds. In October 1997, the UK appointed an anti-drug
coordinator to aid the government in coordinating its fight against illicit
drugs and focus on innovative thinking in this area.
II. Status of Country
British drug policy addresses demand reduction, treatment and law
enforcement, and focuses on locally based action plans. Marijuana is the
most popular illicit drug in the UK. With an estimated 100,000 heroin
addicts, a major concern of British officials is stemming the abuse of
heroin and other injected drugs. There has been an increase in crack
cocaine and cocaine use, but they remain under control. British authorities
are concerned about the use of amphetamines and Ecstasy (MDMA),
particularly among young people. Methadone is also frequently misused.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1997
Policy Initiatives. The new British government, which came to power
after the Labour Party victory in the May 1 elections, is building on an
initiative introduced in 1996 called "Tackling Drugs Together," a
three-year program aimed at increasing community safety from drug-related
crime, helping young people resist drugs, and reducing the health risks of
drug abuse. Local drug action teams comprising police, probation, health,
education, prison and local authorities have taken forward action plans in
1997 to deal with drug misuse in their jurisdiction.
The government has stepped up its action to tackle drugs by appointing
the first UK anti-drugs coordinator, Keith Hellawell, who will be
supported by a Deputy, Mike Trace. One of their immediate priorities
will be to review the government's existing action against drugs and to
advise on a new strategy to succeed "Tackling Drugs Together."
In line with the government's pre-election promises, a new drug testing
and treatment procedure will be introduced as part of the Crime and
Disorder Bill, aimed at breaking the links between addiction and committing
criminal offenses. The new regulation will enable the courts to require
drug abuse offenders to undergo treatment, and mandatory drug testing will
be used to ensure those in treatment are staying clean.
The UK vigorously contributes to international drug control efforts. A
new Special Representative for International Drugs Issues, Patrick Nixon,
was appointed in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintaining this
function at the Assistant Secretary-equivalent level. British bilateral aid
and assistance focused in 1997 on Latin America (Colombia), Central/Eastern
Europe, and Southwest Asia. The UK cooperates closely with the UNDCP and is
working with both the EU and UNDCP, as well as the US, in implementing the
Caribbean Drugs Action Plan. The UK spends a total of about $10.6 million
per year on counternarcotics activities outside Great Britain, including
the cost of Royal Navy ships on counternarcotics duty in the Caribbean. It
channeled about $1.72 million of its FY 97-98 counternarcotics funding
through the UNDCP. The British play a leading role in a number of
international drug control fora including the Council of Europe's Pompidou
Group, the Dublin Group, Europol's Drug Unit and other EU fora, and the
Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The UK chairs the Southwest Asia region
in the Dublin Group and is a vocal counternarcotics advocate in the many
mini-Dublin groups throughout the world.
Accomplishments. This year a law was implemented that requires
mandatory minimum sentences for repeat drug traffickers. A law was also
passed to allow night clubs and similar venues to be closed immediately
when there is found to be a serious drug problem. In the past, these
establishments were allowed to stay open while they appealed the charge of
having a drug problem.
Agreements and Treaties. The US/UK Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty
went into effect in December 1996. The UK has been a party to the 1988 UN
Drug Convention since 1991 and complies fully with its provisions. The UK
was the first country to ratify the Council of Europe's directive on money
laundering as well as the first EU member state to ratify the agreement
setting up Europol. A US-UK Extradition Treaty is also in effect, most
recently updated in 1985. The United Kingdom is a party to the WCO's
International Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance for the
Prevention, Investigation, and Repression of Customs Offences "Nairobi
Convention" Annex X on Assistance in Narcotics Cases. The USG has concluded
a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) with the Government of the
United Kingdom.
Corruption. Narcotics-related corruption of public officials is
not considered a problem in the UK. When identified, corrupt officials are
vigorously prosecuted.
Demand Reduction. HMG's demand reduction efforts focus on
educating young people. Teams located in high-risk urban areas work closely
with the community in advertising the harmful effects of drugs,
disseminating information, offering training seminars for youth workers,
and offering diversionary activities for youngsters.
Cultivation/Production. Some quantities of marijuana, using the
hydroponic system, are cultivated in the UK for personal use and then sold
for commercial use. When detected, the authorities destroy them. Quantities
of amphetamines and Ecstasy are also manufactured in clandestine
laboratories which authorities destroy when found.
Drug Flow/Transit. Heroin reaching the UK generally originates in
Afghanistan and Pakistan and is routed through Iran, Turkey (where much of
it is processed), and Central and Eastern Europe. Drug traffickers are
increasingly using some of the Newly Independent States (NIS) as alternate
smuggling routes to the UK. Marijuana comes primarily from Morocco. Large
cocaine shipments arrive directly from South America; smaller shipments
often come up from the Spanish coast, either directly to the UK or via
Amsterdam. Supplies of amphetamines, Ecstasy, and LSD can be traced to
clandestine laboratories in certain European countries, particularly The
Netherlands and Poland, as well as the UK.
Law Enforcement Efforts. British law enforcement officials,
including customs and excise officials, are vigilant and effective. In
1996, the most recent year for which statistics are available, the UK
seized 79,900 kgs of controlled substances (of which 95 percent was
cannabis.) In 1996, the UK convicted, cautioned or fined 93,600 drug
offenders.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
Bilateral Cooperation. Since 1989, the US and UK governments have
conducted periodic consultations at the senior level to coordinate and
harmonize policies, plans and programs on all counternarcotics fronts. The
UK's Special Representative on International Drug Issues was particularly
active in 1997, further enhancing US/UK counternarcotics cooperation. Law
enforcement cooperation between the two countries is excellent and
growing. The UK cooperates to the fullest extent with efforts by the US and
other countries to trace or seize illicit assets. British laws permit the
sharing of forfeited assets with the USG. Asset sharing with others is both
formal and ad hoc.
The Road Ahead. The US looks forward to continued close
cooperation with the UK on all counternarcotics fronts.
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