FOR UKP2 THERE WILL SOON BE A CHOICE - FOUR HEROIN DOSES OR ONE PINT OF BEER

Heroin could soon be sold on the streets of Britain for the same price as a
pint of beer, the drugs "tsar" Keith Hellawell warned yesterday.

Wraps of heroin are being sold for as little as UKP2, said Mr Hellawell and
the drug is rapidly becoming the first-choice narcotic for young people.

Figures released yesterday showed that Customs and Excise officers seized
more than 82 tonnes of drugs last year. Staff recovered 1,747kg of heroin
with a street value of more than UKP145 million - an increase of more than
a metric tonne on the amount seized in 1996.

While heroin addiction was once the domain of the inner cities and
generations of the same family, "young rich kids" living in affluent
suburban areas are increasingly using the drug.

It is understood pushers are increasingly targeting younger people - and
selling the drug at a loss to try to hook new users.

Experts believe the rave culture is partly responsible for the increased
popularity of heroin which is used as a "come down" after taking stimulants
such as ecstasy.

Neil Robertson, training and research officer at the Edinburgh-based Fast
Forward drug education charity said the growing use of heroin among young
people was a worrying trend.

"Heroin used to be a drug associated with the poor, disadvantaged areas but
now it seems to cut across classes. There is some evidence that wealthy
users who have a good job are starting to use it in a recreational way," he
said.

Many of the drug's users are smoking heroin instead of injecting it because
of the fear of AIDS.

There are 20,000 heroin users in Scotland with an increasing number of
younger people smoking the drug.

Professor Neil McKeganey, from Glasgow University, said that cult films may
have heroin use appear more attractive.

He said: "Previously, people thought of heroin as the drug with which you
burned your bridges. Now it is becoming more commonplace in people's
attitudes. Some people say films like 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Trainspotting'
have glamourised heroin.

"While 'Trainspotting' had some graphic representations of the drug, the
fact that it was on film gives the drug a certain amount of appeal."

Customs officials said the seizures of heroin were equivalent to nearly
nine million wraps - a wrap contains about 0.2 grams of the drug and is
enough for up to four doses.

Mr Hellawell said: "I am particularly concerned about the rise in heroin.
It's a destructive drug and a disproportionate amount of crime is committed
by heroin addicts. Dealers like it because people become addicted quicker
to it and their reliance is secured."

About 80 per cent of heroin is sent from Turkey from opium produced in
Afghanistan and Pakistan. It follows a route through Bulgaria, Romania,
into Germany, Holland and Belgium before being smuggled into Britain.

A Scottish customs source said last night the country was part of an
intricate smuggling network operating throughout Europe. "That which is
found in Scotland may be part of wider seizures down south, at Heathrow for
example.

"Some of the big jobs involved foreign nationals who have come to oversee
their investment. We are often a transmission point for drugs that are
going elsewhere."

The price of heroin is higher in this country because of the greater chance
of detection by customs.

Dick Kellaway, the Customs and Excise chief investigative officer, said the
increase in heroin seizures showed smugglers were trying to widen the user
base.

The figures also showed that two tonnes of cocaine, with a street value of
UKP206 million, was seized, campared with 1.16 tonnes in 1996.

Cannabis seizures remained about the same at 77 tonnes, while there was a
small fall in ecstasy hauls.

A spokesman for the Customs and Excise in Scotland said UKP13.9 million
worth of drugs were seized north of the Border in 1997. The number of drugs
seizures within the national investigation service of the Customs and
Excise had tripled over the last year.