BLAIR CALLS FOR GLOBAL WAR ON DRUG DEALERS

A GLOBAL war on drugs, with minimum set penalties for drug traffickers
across the European Union, was called for by Tony Blair last night.

The Prime Minister said that, as a parent, he was "terrified" about the
threat posed by the deadly substances and has moved to ensure that the
issue is raised at an EU summit in Portugal.

"Dealers must know that they will face severe penalties wherever they are
caught," he said, in his first address to the Scottish Parliament. "I want
the war against drugs to be a much higher priority for the European Union."

Mr Blair, who met recovering addicts in Glasgow yesterday, is concerned at
the fact that sentences vary widely across Europe, undermining the
credibility of the EU.

Although most European countries have relaxed their penalties for simple
possession, they now have similar penalties for trafficking, ranging from a
maximum of life imprisonment in Britain to ten to 20 years in Italy and 12
years in The Netherlands.

Speaking after briefings with senior police and customs investigators, the
Prime Minister emphasised that he also wanted tough action in East Eu
ropean and other countries applying to join the EU. He wanted to foster
co-operation over drugs with Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia,
Cyprus and Estonia.

"Much of the heroin in the UK comes here through applicant countries. That
creates problems for them as well as us," he said.

"We will be pressing for closer co-operation on drugs and crime with
applicant countries to help us all work for drug-free societies in an
enlarged European Union."

The latest intelligence reports indicate that the opium poppy fields of
South-East Asia have had a bumper crop and that Europe will be targeted.
The Government believes the East European countries are the weak point for
the entry of drugs.

Drug investigators are also worried that cocaine and heroin produced by the
Colombian cartels will flood European markets. The South American drug
barons have conquered the US market for heroin and are known to be looking
at European cities.

Mr Blair said a cross-border response was vital. "As a parent, like many of
you, I am terrified about the threat of drugs," he told MSPs.

He pointed out that in Scotland alone nearly 300 young people die from drug
misuse each year. Seizures of heroin grew by eight times between 1994 and
1998 and 40 per cent of secondary school pupils admitted using illegal
drugs.

The first discussions on the possibility of agreeing EU-wide minimum
penalties will come later this month when Jack Straw, the Home Secretary,
is expected to outline the proposal at talks in Brussels.

Antonio Vitorino, the European Commissioner for justice and home affairs,
welcomed the initiative. "I am very satisfied with the support of the
British Prime Minister to help tackle this problem. We are dealing with
cross-border problems which require cross-border solutions."

But he emphasised that Brussels would not interfere in the separate issue
of the criminality of drug users which, he insisted, was a matter for
sovereign governments.

HOW EUROPE TRESTS TRAFFICKERS

UK.........................up to life
Belgium....................10 to 20 yrs
Denmark....................up to 10 yrs
France.....................up to 30 yrs *
Germany....................severe cases 15 yrs
Greece.....................5 to 20 yrs
Ireland....................up to life
The Netherlands............up to 12 yrs
Portugal...................up to 15 yrs
Sweden.....................2-10 yrs

* for gang member or life for organiser