DRUGS ARE FLOODING IN FOR THE MILLENNIUM, WARN POLICE

British criminals are believed to have boosted the supply of synthetic
drugs such as ecstasy in the hope of profiteering from prolonged
celebrating by young people over the festive period.

The National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) issued a warning that the
gangs behind the multi-million-pound trade in chemical drugs were
attempting to flood the British market over Christmas and the Millennium.
They also warned that young and impressionable people swept up by the
"hype" over Millennium celebrations might be tempted to try chemical drugs
for the first time, with the risk of potentially devastating side-effects.

A number of deaths of young people have been linked to ecstasy and other
drugs. Police believe that the principal targets of the gangs are all-night
dance events and street parties - due to take place all over Britain.

NCIS, which monitors the trade in illicit synthetic drugs, said there was
evidence that gangs were importing more narcotics and had stepped up
production from home-based drug "laboratories". Customs officers have
seized 886 kilos of ecstasy this year - compared to 250 last year. Since
October, 325 kilos have been removed from the streets.

Most of the imported drugs are from Holland - a long-standing source of
chemical narcotics - and some ecstasy pills recovered were stamped with an
M for Millennium or 2000 logo. Nick Wilson, head of the organisation's
drugs section, said: "The festive season has created an unprecedented
demand for dangerous drugs, a demand that organised crime is only too happy
to meet."