HEROIN UK - CLOSE-KNIT GANGS WHO DEAL IN DEATH

THE POLICE and MI5 have identified 30 drug gangs who are controlling the
distribution of heroin throughout Britain and Ireland. Detectives also
believe there is a new threat from the South American drug barons, notably
from Colombia, who are planning to ship large quantities of heroin into
Europe for the first time.

The National Criminal Intelligence Service, drug squads, customs officers
and MI5 have been tracking the distribution of heroin in the UK, which has
seen a huge increase in the amount on sale during the past few years.

Most of the UK heroin gangs are Turkish groups based in north London and
Liverpool, which are the two main distribution points for drug trafficking
throughout the country and to Dublin. But criminal gangs from Kosovo and
Armenia are also heavily involved. These groups are estimated to import
between 85 and 90 per cent of the heroin in the UK.

Each organisation has about 12 "active players" or senior figures, as well
as dozens of runners, drivers and organisers. The leading figures almost all
have long criminal records. Intelligence suggests that the gangs are
increasingly turning to murder to maintain their control over the drug
trade.

The gangs launder much of the huge profits from the heroin trade through
restaurants, pubs and clubs. The criminals are also involved in vice,
prostitution and protection rackets. The police have found it very difficult
to infiltrate the gangs because they are close-knit, often only employing
family members or long-term friends.

There is also some evidence of a small number of white criminal families
starting to go to Europe to buy heroin directly rather than waiting for it
to be smuggled across the Channel.

Most of the heroin smuggled into the UK comes in trucks via Dover. A tiny
amount is swallowed or hidden by couriers and brought into the country via
airports and through the Channel Tunnel. The majority of the drug comes from
opium grown in Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, and arrives via countries
such as the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and
Hungary.

Once the drug is brought in on trucks it is sent to London and Liverpool.
The Merseyside gangs supply the drug to Glasgow and the whole of Scotland,
Dublin, Manchester and the North-west. Bradford, Hull, Birmingham and
Bristol are secondary distribution points. As the drug gets broken down into
smaller packages local dealers distribute it to towns and rural areas.

The police and customs admit that despite record heroin seizures they have
had almost no impact on availability of the drug or the street price, which
remains extremely low.

Vince Harvey, director of the UK division of the National Criminal
Intelligence Service, said: "Heroin offers the highest profits and attracts
the most serious criminals. A significant number of these criminal
organisations have some connection with Turkey. The key players are well
established in the UK.

"London and Liverpool are the strongholds. Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow
and Bristol are the secondary bases. It is a well-established route - heroin
is available everywhere you want it now."

On future trends for the dealers, he said: "There are some indications that
the South Americans are now moving away from only selling cocaine and are
growing heroin."

Mr Harvey is part of a government working party that is drawing up measures
to allow the assets of suspected criminals to be seized without first
obtaining a conviction. The Home Office is expected to bring in new laws to
allow police and customs officials to confiscate money and assets of
suspected drug dealers. The alleged criminals will have to prove that they
legitimately obtained their possessions and cash, or face losing them.