UK'S ANSWER TO FBI ACCUSED OF SPIN IN DRUG SEIZURES CLAIMS

Headline-grabbing claims of record drugs seizures by Britain's answer
to the FBI - the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) - have prompted
calls for a parliamentary investigation amid suspicions that the
organisation is "spinning" its success.

Soca's recent boast that it has seized a record 73 tons of cocaine in
its first year was widely reported across the media. But the agency is
refusing to provide any evidence to back up its dramatic claims.

According to Soca's chairman, Sir Stephen Lander, a former MI5 chief,
the huge haul of cocaine had a street value of UKP3bn and equalled
one-fifth of the annual supply to Europe. But when The Independent on
Sunday asked the agency to provide a breakdown of its cocaine seizures
it stalled for 11 days before saying it was "unwilling" to provide any
details.

Conservative MP David Burrowes, secretary of the All-Party
Parliamentary Drugs Misuse Group, said Soca's figures must be
investigated. "Soca can't have it both ways and claim record seizures
and then refuse to give a breakdown. Otherwise the public will be
right to suspect this is more spin than substance."

The agency said all but 550kg of the cocaine was seized outside the UK
and en route to Europe. Sir Stephen did admit that these seizures,
totalling 72.5 tons, had been in co-operation with other agencies,
both British and foreign.

Defending its decision not to explain its headline claims, a spokesman
said: "Soca is not prepared to provide specific details of its ongoing
work - not only because many of the resulting cases are sub-judice or
inquiries are continuing, but also because it isn't operationally
sensible to publish a rich picture of where we are operating."

Cross-checking known cocaine seizures, the IoS has identified a
maximum of 18 tons taken in five operations by ships of the Royal Navy
operating in the Atlantic and Caribbean, working in co-operation with
other nationalities.

In one of the seizures, a joint naval task force stopped a ship off
the Cape Verde Islands last November and found 1.8 tons of cocaine.
The UK forces were working with Spanish law enforcement authorities
and the drugs and those arrested were taken to Spain.

In each case Soca officers appear to have had involvement. The agency
has confirmed that this 18 tons is part of their 73 tons total. But it
will not provide any details of who, where, how much and by whom the
remaining 55 tons was seized.

In the past there were strict rules about claiming non-UK seizures.
There was a set of protocols that was drawn up between the Concerted
Inter-Agency Drugs Action Group and the National Audit Office. This
meant that unless a UK agency was entirely responsible for a non-UK
seizure then only a percentage could be claimed. There also had to be
overwhelming evidence that the cocaine was destined for the UK.

But Soca says it will not follow these protocols. "We are a new and
different organisation and our reporting is, in consequence,
different, too."

A former senior drug investigator questioned this approach: "It is
claiming success even where there is no reason to believe that any of
the consignment seized was likely to be destined for the UK."

Mr Burrowes added: "I think that the National Audit Office should
audit Soca's seizure figures at the 18 months mark to see if they are
accurate." Mr Burrowes said he would be raising the issue in
Parliament.