FRESH MOVE TO CATCH DRUG SMUGGLERS

Police and custom officers are set to launch a renewed campaign against
people smuggling crack cocaine.

The move, to be announced by Home Secretary David Blunkett on Thursday,
will include a bid to stem the supply of chemicals made to use drugs like
ecstasy. So far government measures have failed to impact significantly on
the supply of hard drugs in the UK.

Mr Blunkett will announce to his European counterparts at a meeting in
Spain that the UK and Spanish agencies are to work together to tackle
cocaine smugglers.

Substantial quantities of the drug are brought into Europe through the
Iberian peninsula.

Spanish Connection

The Home Office believes that 25 tonnes of the drug is imported into the UK
from Colombia and other South American countries each year. Experts believe
that half that figure comes through Spain. There are also plans for a team
of British officers to be seconded to Europol in the UK for
intelligence-gathering purposes. They hope to garner information about the
so-called "precursor" chemicals used in the manufacture of ecstasy and for
refining drugs like heroin and cocaine. Mr Blunkett said: "Despite
continuing large-scale seizures, the availability of hard drugs seems
largely unaffected. "There are still between 7,000 to 8,000 drug-related
deaths each year in the EU." He added that it was "vital" tough, concerted
action be taken across the EU "to support source countries and close the
main transit routes".

"We must focus on practical operational activities to disrupt this traffic.
"The assistance of our EU partners is vital as we tackle these drug
routes." According to the Home Office a lot of "precursor" chemicals arrive
legitimately in the EU and are then "diverted" to make synthetic drugs. "We
estimate 10 to 20% of synthetic drugs used in the UK are manufactured
here," a spokesman said.

The Home Office estimates that 27 million ecstasy pills are taken each
year. Usage is predominately associated with young people and the club culture.

The UK ecstasy market alone is worth UKP 295 million.

European Co-operation?

Figures put the number of ecstasy tablets taken at about 52 million pills a
year. The new Europol team, led by officers from the National Criminal
Intelligence Service, will initially gather intelligence although if they
are successful it could lead to them conducting investigations, the Home
Office said.

Mr Blunkett added: "The initiatives will promote closer co-operation
between European partners, police and other enforcement agencies - creating
joint investigative teams where necessary - to counter cocaine trafficking
and the diversion of precursor chemicals used in ecstasy production.

"We also need to see tough penalties for serious drug traffickers right
across Europe.

"These should be set at a high level to signal our determination to tackle
this evil trade."