1998 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report

Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
United States Department of State
February 26, 1999

UNITED KINGDOM

I. Summary

The United Kingdom (UK) is a consumer country of illicit drugs. It produces and exports many precursor and essential chemicals that could be used to manufacture illicit drugs. It strictly enforces national precursor chemical legislation in compliance with EU regulations. British financial institutions have been vulnerable to money laundering, but implementation of tougher money laundering legislation appears to have reduced vulnerability throughout the Crown Territories. Nevertheless, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man have offshore banking facilities that are attractive to drug funds, as do the Caribbean Overseas Territories (COTS). In April 1998, the UK launched a new drug strategy for the next ten year. It will be monitored by the UK Anti-Drugs Coordinator, first appointed in 1997, who will report annually on the progress of the strategy.

II. Status of Country

British drug policy addresses demand reduction, treatment and law enforcement, and focuses on locally-based action plans. Marijuana is the most popular illicit drug in the UK. With more than 100,000 heroin addicts, a major concern of British officials is stemming the abuse of heroin and other injected drugs. There has been an increase in crack cocaine and cocaine use, but they remain under control. British authorities are concerned about the use of amphetamines and ecstasy, particularly among young people. Methadone is also frequently misused.

III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1998

Policy Initiatives. The UK has developed a 10-year strategy, outlined in a white paper issued in April 1998, entitled "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain." This strategy builds upon old ones, but puts greater stress on the importance of all sectors of society working together to combat drugs. Its new focus recognizes that drug problems do not occur in isolation, and are often linked to other social problems. The strategy is a part of a wider UK government program for tackling reforms in the welfare state, education, employment, health, criminal justice and the economy.

The Strategy has four elements:

-- To help young people resist drug misuse, in order to achieve their full potential in society;

-- To protect communities from drug-related, anti-social and criminal behavior;

-- To enable people with drug problems to overcome them and live healthy, crime-free lives; and,

-- To stifle the availability of drugs on the streets.

The strategy is being monitored by the UK Anti-Drugs Coordinator, Keith Hellawell. During his first year, consistent and rigorous targets were set. The UK Anti-Drugs Coordinator will report on progress annually. The first report is expected in April 1999.

The new strategy has been accompanied by a wide-scale review of resources available for tackling drug misuse. The UK Government spends around $2.3 billion a year tackling the problem--with 62 percent of this total going to enforcement-related work, and the balance to education, prevention and treatment. The new strategy marks a progressive shift away from reactive expenditure (i.e., dealing with the consequences of drug misuse) toward greater investment in prevention.

In September 1998, the UK government announced an additional $358 million to be available over the next three years on anti-drugs projects. This includes funding of $99 million for the new drug treatment and testing order, and $123 million towards a comprehensive provision for treatment of problem drug abusers in prison and their rehabilitation back into society. In addition, $115 million is being made available for setting up new community-based treatment services.

The UK also plays an active role with the European Union (EU) in combating drugs. Under the UK Presidency, in 1998, work was begun on developing a new EU drug strategy. Key elements of this strategy were agreed upon for 2000- 2004. They were endorsed by the Cardiff European Council in June 1998.

The role of Special Representative for International Drugs Issues was taken on by Michael Ryder, Head of the Drugs and International Crime Department, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in September 1998.

The UK vigorously contributes to international drug control efforts. With the new drug strategy in mind, this assistance has focused on the main southwest Asia and Balkans heroin route, and the Latin America and Caribbean cocaine route. The UK strongly supports and works closely with the UNDCP. The UK is the latter's second largest bilateral donor. The British play a leading role in a number of international drug control fora including the Council of Europe's Pompidou Group, the Dublin Group, EUROPOL's Drug Unit and other EU fora, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The UK chairs the southwest drug unit in the Dublin Group and is an active counternarcotics advocate in the many mini-Dublin groups throughout the world.

Accomplishments. The drug treatment and testing order is a new community sentence which enables courts to require drug offenders to undergo treatment, and submit to mandatory and random drug testing to ensure that they remain clean. The new order is being piloted in three areas of England from September 30, 1998; and the outcomes will be closely monitored and evaluated. If the pilot program is successful, the new order will be applied across the country starting in the year 2000.

New legislation to enable nightclubs and similar venues to be closed immediately when found to harbor a serious drug problem was brought into effect on May 1, 1998. This new enforcement power has been little used to date, but appears to have helped considerably in encouraging club operators to improve security and increase vigilance against drug misuse.

Law Enforcement Efforts. British law enforcement officials, including Customs and Excise officials, are vigilant and effective. In November 1998, Home Office Secretary Jack Straw put forward for public consultation ways in which the UK can improve upon the seizure of assets from criminals, primarily drug dealers. Procedures for civil asset forfeiture will be proposed in a white paper policy document to be published in the Spring of 1999.

Corruption. Narcotics-related corruption of public officials is not considered a problem in the UK. When identified, corrupt officials are vigorously prosecuted.

Agreements and Treaties. The US/UK Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) went into effect in December 1996. The UK has been party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention since 1991 and complies fully with its provisions. The UK was the first country to ratify the Council of Europe's directive on money laundering, as well as the first EU member state to ratify the agreement setting up EUROPOL. A US-UK Extradition Treaty is also in effect, most recently updated in 1985. The United Kingdom is a party to the WCO's International Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance for the Prevention, Investigation, and Repression of Customs Offenses "Nairobi Convention" Annex X on Assistance in Narcotics Cases. THE USG, in 1989, concluded a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) with the Government of the United Kingdom.

Cultivation/Production. Marijuana, using the hydroponic system, is cultivated in limited amounts in the UK for personal use, and occasionally sold for commercial use. When such cultivation is detected, authorities destroy the crops and facilities. Amphetamines and ecstasy are also manufactured in limited amounts. These drugs are manufactured in clandestine laboratories that authorities also destroy when found.

Drug Flow/Transit. There are steady supplies of heroin and cocaine entering the UK. The bulk of heroin originates in the golden crescent of southwest Asia, notably in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and is routed through Iran, Turkey (where much of it is processed), and central Europe. Drug traffickers are increasingly using some of the Newly Independent States (NIS) as alternate smuggling routes to the UK. Marijuana comes primarily from Morocco. Large cocaine shipments arrive directly from South America; smaller shipments often come up from the Spanish coast, either directly to the UK or via Amsterdam. There is also a synthetic drug market that originates out of western and central Europe. Amphetamines, ecstasy and LSD have been traced from clandestine laboratories in The Netherlands and Poland, and the UK.

Domestic Programs. The UK Government's demand reduction efforts focus on school and other community-based programs to educate young people and prevent them from taking drugs. In November, 1998, Schools Minister Charles Clarke announced new guidelines (protecting young people - good practices in drug education in schools and the youth service) to help teachers and youth-workers warn young people about the dangers of drugs. Additionally, the Drug Prevention Advisory Service will reestablish school and community teams involved in this activity from April 1999. These teams will give specialist prevention advice to all of the locally- based drug action teams.

IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs

Bilateral Cooperation. Since 1989, the U.S. and UK governments have conducted periodic consultations at the senior level to coordinate and harmonize policies, plans and programs on all counternarcotics fronts. Law enforcement cooperation between the two countries is excellent and growing. The UK cooperates to the fullest extent with efforts by the U.S. and other countries to trace or seize illicit assets. British laws permit the sharing of forfeited assets with the USG. Asset sharing with other nations is both formal and ad hoc.

The Road Ahead. The U.S. looks forward to continued close cooperation with the UK on all counternarcotics fronts.