Drug Seizures Set a Record in Britain
British customs officers seized a record amount of narcotics with a street value of $154 million in 1985, according to official figures published Tuesday.
Seizures of cocaine rose by 125% compared to a record 174 pounds in 1984. Heroin confiscation rose 11% to 767 pounds.
Richard Lawrence, customs chief investigation officer, warned of a growing future threat from South American drug dealers, who he said were trying to widen the British cocaine market.
“There are signs that the cocaine market in the United States has reached saturation level and drug dealers are now looking towards Europe for new markets,” he said.
Lawrence said that despite record seizures of cocaine, heroin remains the biggest single problem in Britain.
Britain was sending narcotics officers overseas to assist foreign experts in their fight against drug dealers.
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