Seizures of hard drugs increase

The amount of Class A heroin seized in 2001 went up 16%

Seizures of hard drugs have increased by 10% but the amount of cocaine intercepted has fallen by more than a quarter, according to new Home Office new figures.

Ministers said hauls of Class A hard drugs had reached an "all-time high", according to the figures for 2001.

More than 3,900 kg (8,600lb) of heroin was recovered in the year, up 16% and nearly eight times the amount seized a decade earlier.

Our law enforcement agencies are making a difference to the communities whose lives are blighted by drugs

Caroline Flint
Home Office minister

Home Secretary David Blunkett has tried to turn the police's focus to recovering hard drugs with a plan to reclassify cannabis alongside prescription steroids and anti-depressants.

And the number of seizures of cannabis has fallen by 14% in the last decade.

The figures for drug seizures in 2001 included:

The amount of cocaine seized fell by more than 1,100kg (2,425lb) to 2,842kg (6,265lb) (down 28%), the lowest since 1997.

Cannabis accounted for 71% of all seizures compared with 85% a decade earlier.

Nearly 56kg (123lb) of crack was recovered, more than double the amount in 2000.

The number of Class A drug seizures overall rose by 10% to 38,000.

In all there were 130,894 drug seizures, nearly 6,000 more than the previous year.

Home Office minister Caroline Flint said enforcement agencies were focusing on the most dangerous drugs.

"Customs officers are targeting the Class A drug smugglers, cross-regional police 'hit squads' are breaking up the wholesaler middle drugs market and local police have increased their efforts to get rid of street dealers and shut down premises that are used for dealing."

She said the drugs which do most harm to society, such as crack and heroin, are being stopped in greater quantities.

"By preventing these drugs reaching the streets our law enforcement agencies are making a difference to the communities, families and individuals whose lives are blighted by drugs."