MINISTER URGES EU DRUGS CRACK-DOWN

The UK government has called on European Union countries to crack
down harder on people who smuggle drugs.

Home Office Minister Barbara Roche told EU ministers - meeting in
Brussels - that tougher penalties were needed for traffickers.

The minister urged a common EU policy on combating drug smugglers,
including a mandatory seven-year prison sentence for people convicted
for a third trafficking offence.

She also proposed the confiscation of passports.

Common policy

Mrs Roche said the UK was already setting an example of how to tackle
the problem in the way it was encouraging countries wanting to join
the EU to improve their anti-drug efforts.

Mrs Roche said: "It is estimated that there are around 1.5 million
drug addicts in the EU and more than 8,000 drug-related deaths per
year.

"It is a problem that affects all developed societies, and one that
no society can solve on its own.

"I want to see tough sentences across Europe. In addition, where
people are convicted of serious drugs trafficking offences we should
be able to confiscate their passports or ban travel for a time after
their release from prison.

"The trade in illicit drugs is an international criminal business and
preventing them from travelling will significantly disrupt and
undermine their activities."

The government has already proposed amending UK law to allow
confiscation of drug traffickers' passports for a minimum of two
years after they are released from jail on licence.

The proposals are contained in the Criminal Justice and Police Bill
which is currently going through the House of Commons.