ALERT AFTER CHEAP HEROIN DANGER HITS THE STREETS

Scotland - Drug squads are on the alert after a secret report revealed
super- strength heroin is being sold on Scotland's streets.

A confidential document says pure heroin being seized by police is the most
potent officers have seen.

It's widely available for less than pounds 10 a bag - the same price as
previously weaker batches - and is being sold alongside clear Temazepam
capsules, or jellies, in deadly two-for-one deals.

The shock report, by Strathclyde Police Drugs Squad's STOP unit, says:
"Temazepam is often abused with heroin and recently recovered tenner bags
have been found to be heavier and better quality. The combination of both
drugs is a potentially fatal cocktail."

It's the first time jellies have been seen on the streets since they were
banned in 1997 because they were being injected by addicts.

Drugs workers now fear more drugs deaths and an increase in young users,
tempted by low prices.

Cocaine has also dropped dramatically in price. A decade ago it cost around
pounds 200 per gram, but it's now available for as little as pounds 40 in
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.

Every force in Scotland has been put on alert over the report's findings
and drugs squad officers will meet next month to discuss the problem.

Detective Sergeant Kenny Simpson of Strathclyde Police said yesterday:
"Drug users are putting their health at serious risk by taking this high
purity heroin, particularly if they mix it with temazepam.

"Temazepam can make the user very violent, after which there is little or
no recollection of events. The possibility of this is greater when the drug
is mixed with alcohol.