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U.S. Department of State
1996 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, March 1997
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
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 attract drug funds. The UK is a party to the
1988 UN Convention.
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 an estimated 100,000 heroin addicts, British
officials are preoccupied with 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 (MDMA). The benzodiazepine, Temazepam, is a major
drug of abuse.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1996
Policy Initiatives. The British Government implemented an initiative
introduced in 1995 called "Tackling Drugs Together," a three-year program
aimed at increasing community safety from drug-related crime, helping young
people resist drugs, and reducing the health risks of drug abuse. Local drug
action teams comprising police, probation, health, education, prison and local
authorities developed action plans in 1996 to deal with drug misuse in their
jurisdiction.
The UK vigorously contributes to international drug control efforts. British
bilateral aid and assistance focused in 1996 on Latin America (Colombia),
Central/Eastern Europe, and Southwest Asia. The UK cooperates closely with
the UNDCP and was a principal proponent of the UNDCP-sponsored Caribbean
initiative on counternarcotics. The UK usually channels about half of its
counternarcotics funding through the UNDCP (about 4.8 million pounds in
FY96-97). The British actively particpate and 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 Asia region
in the Dublin Group and is a vocal counternarcotics advocate in the many
mini-Dublin Groups throughout the world.
Accomplishments. In October, a bill was introduced in parliament which
will require mandatory minimum sentences for repeat drug traffickers. A bill
making it an offense to distribute, but not to dispense, anabolic steroids
became effective in the Fall of 1996. It is expected that this will drive
some steroids traffickers from the UK who supply US customers through the
mails.
Agreements and Treaties. On December 2, the updated US/UK Mutual Legal
Assistance Treaty went into effect. The UK has been a party to the 1988 UN
Convention since 1991 and complies fully with its provisions. The UK was the
first EU member to ratify the Council of Europe's directive on money
laundering. A US-UK extradition treaty is also in effect. The UK has acceded
to the World Customs Organization's 1977 International Convention on Mutual
Administrative Assistance for the Prevention, Investigation, and Repression of
Customs Offences. Annex 10 of this Convention, which the UK has accepted,
deals with assistance in action against the smuggling of narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances.
Corruption. Narcotics-related corruption of public officials is not
considered a problem in the UK. When identified, corrupt officials are
vigorously prosecuted.
Demand Reduction/Domestic Programs. HMG's demand reduction efforts
focus on educating young people. Teams located in high-risk urban areas work
closely with the community in advertising harmful effects of drugs,
disseminating information, offering training seminars for youth workers, and
offering diversionary activities for youngsters.
Cultivation/Production. Small quantities of marijuana are cultivated for
personal use; when deducted, the authorities destroy them. Small quantities
of amphetamines and ecstasy are also manufactured in underground laboratories
which authorities destroy when found.
Drug Flow/transit. Heroin shipments to the UK generally originate in
Afghanistan and Pakistan and are routed through Iran, Turkey, Central and
Eastern Europe, and the Balkans. UK anecdotal evidence suggests that drug
traffickers are using some of the new independent states as alternate
smuggling routes to the West. Marijuana comes primarily from Morocco. Large
cocaine shipments arrive directly from South America; smaller shipments (under
50 kgs) often come via Amsterdam. Supplies of amphetamines, ecstasy, and LSD
can be traced to underground laboratories in the UK and certain other European
countries, particularly the Netherlands and Poland.
Enforcement Efforts. British law enforcement officials, including Customs
and Excise officials, are vigilant and effective. In 1995, the most recent
year for which statistics are available, the UK seized nearly 61,500 kgs of
controlled substances (of which 95 percent was cannabis) and convicted,
cautioned or fined 93,600 drug offenders.
IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs
Bilateral Cooperation. Since 1989, the US 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's appointment in 1996 of the first international drug coordinator
(reporting to both the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary) further
enhanced US/UK counternarcotics cooperation. The UK cooperates to the fullest
extent with efforts by the US and other countries to trace or seize illicit
assets. British laws permit the sharing of forfeited assets with the USG.
Asset sharing with others is on an ad hoc basis. Additionally, the chief of
the UK office of National Drug Control and Policy (ONDCP) visited the US in
1996 for coordinated research and development with his USG counterpart on
world-wide, drug control strategies. His four-month trip was made pursuant to
a 1995 memorandum of understanding on technology and drugs between the US and
UK.
The Road Ahead. The US looks forward to continued close cooperation with
the UK on all counternarcotics fronts.
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