Devon and Cornwall Police Report Fewer Drug Seizures Despite National Surge
Devon and Cornwall saw a significant drop in drug seizures last year, even as national figures hit record highs across England and Wales
Devon, Cornwall, Drug Seizures, Police, UK
Devon: Last year, the police in Devon and Cornwall had a tough time with drug seizures. They managed to seize over 2,400 drugs, but that’s a drop of more than a third compared to the year before.
Meanwhile, across England and Wales, authorities were busy. They seized over 119 tonnes of illegal drugs, worth around £3 billion. Quite a contrast, right?
In fact, the overall drug seizures in England and Wales went up by 13% from the previous year. Border Force alone made a record number of finds, with over 40,000 separate seizures.
Interestingly, while cocaine and herbal cannabis seizures hit record highs, heroin seizures dropped significantly. It’s the lowest amount since 1989, which is pretty surprising.
Lee Fernandes from The UKAT Group pointed out that the demand for drugs is shifting. Younger users are moving away from traditional Class A drugs and are now experimenting with things like cannabis vapes and even synthetic drugs.
In Devon and Cornwall, police seized 27kg of powdered cocaine, 6kg of heroin, and 371kg of herbal cannabis last year. It’s clear that the landscape of drug use is changing.
Seema Malhotra, the Minister for Migration and Citizenship, emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling illegal drugs. She made it clear that they’re serious about catching those trying to smuggle drugs into the country.