SCOTTISH DEA OPERATIONAL IN SIX MONTHS

SCOTLAND'S new Drugs Enforcement Agency will become operational within the
next six months, Angus MacKay, the deputy justice minister, announced
yesterday, writes Stuart Nicolson.

Mr MacKay, who made the pledge during a debate on crime prevention, said
that the need for the agency was highlighted by the fact that the tally of
drugs-related deaths this year in the Strathclyde Police area alone are had
risen to 108.

He said: "Within 150 days we will appoint a chief executive to head the
agency. Very soon after that it will become operational."

Mr MacKay said that the battle against drugs would receive UKP4 million of
government backing, which would be spent to fund an additional 200 police
officers, roughly half of whom would be part of the agency itself, with the
others dispersed among local police forces' own drug squads.

The DEA staff will be drawn from police, Customs and Excise and other law
enforcement agencies.