Wales 'at risk' from customs cuts

Unions says customs job cuts will hit drugs seizures in Wales

Job cuts in the customs service will leave Wales at greater risk from drug smugglers and terrorists, it is claimed.

The dangers of illegal meat imports were also highlighted at the Royal Welsh Show by the Farmers' Union of Wales and the union representing customs officers.

Both unions said these threats would be increased if the planned cuts in staff in Wales go ahead.

There were warnings that illegal meat imports could bring the danger of another foot and mouth epidemic.

Charles Hay, the leader of the Public and Commercial Services Union in Wales, claimed cuts of 500 jobs throughout the UK would leave Wales as the only area in Britain without a serious investigative team.

At the show, at Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, he joined FUW president Gareth Vaughan and Adam Mathews, of the Bushmeat Campaign, to stress the dangers of illegal meat imports as well as drugs.

"Drug gangs will simply use Wales as a back door through which to smuggle drugs," he said. "In addition, there are terrorist threats from links with Ireland."

Farmers fear that smuggled meat could start another epidemic

Nick Somerfield, chairman of the FUW's land use and parliamentary committee, said: "This is incredible. I am appalled.

"These cuts leave us vulnerable to another foot and mouth outbreak or possibly the Ebola virus getting into Wales."

Mike Norgrove, director of intelligence for Customs and Excise, said there was no question of reducing efforts in Wales.

"We are keeping offices in Holyhead, Cardiff and Swansea but reorganising our coastal coverage to make it more flexible."

He added that the main drugs threat to Wales was from the English east coast ports and that they had to concentrate forces where the risk was greatest.