Commentary
Number of Drug Seizures
The total number of drug seizures in Scotland in 2006/07 saw a decrease of 17% compared with 2005/06, from 25,314 to 20,938.
In 2005/06 the number of seizures increased slightly compared to 2004/05, from 24,898 to 25,314.
Figure 1 (page 1) shows the total number of drug seizures in Scotland made by the eight Scottish Police forces. There was an upward trend from 2000/01 until 2005/06. The past year show that the total number of seizures decreased in 2006/07.
Figure 2 illustrates the change in the number of seizures broken down by class, showing that the majority of seizures recovered drugs currently classified as class C drugs. The classifications of drugs has changed over the reporting period (see note 10) and the classifications at the end of the reporting period, March 2007, have been applied to all data. Year 2005/06 saw increases in the number of seizures of class A, B and C drugs and Year 2006/07 saw an increase in the number of seizures of class A drugs only.
Figure 2 The number of seizures of controlled drugs by financial year, Scotland
Class A Drugs
The proportion of seizures recovering class A drugs has increased over the past four years, from 18% in 2003/04, 20% in 2004/05, 22% in 2005/06 and 31% of seizures in 2006/07.
The number of crack and cocaine seizures in 2005/06 saw an increase of 57% when compared to 2004/05, from 945 to 1,487 seizures. In 2006/07 the number of crack and cocaine seizures increased by a further 29% compared to the 2005/06 figure from 1,487 to 1,918.
The number of heroin seizures in 2005/06 saw an increase of 16% when compared to 2004/05, from 2,816 to 3,275 seizures. In 2006/07 the number of heroin seizures increased very slightly from 3,275 to 3,289. The majority of Class A seizures in 2005/06 and 2006/07 involved heroin seizures.
The number of ecstasy-type seizures in 2005/06 saw a decrease of 33% when compared to 2004/05, from 1,279 to 851 seizures (the lowest number of seizures since 1998/99). However, in 2006/07 the number of ecstasy-type seizures increased by 68% compared to the 2005/06 figure from 851 to 1,432.
There were only 3 methylamphetamine seizures recovered during 2006/07 and no methylamphetamine seizures during 2005/06.
The number of seizures recovering crack has more than trebled over the past two years, although absolute numbers remain relatively small. The increase is also reflected in the quantity of crack recovered, with 75 crack seizures resulting in 1.1 kg recovered in 2004/2005 and 226 crack seizures resulting in 9.2 kg in 2006/2007. The majority of crack seizures in 2005/06 and 2006/07 were made by Grampian police force.
Class B Drugs
The proportion of seizures recovering class B drugs has remained roughly the same in the past four years (from 5% in 2003/04 to 6% in 2006/7)
Since the reclassification of cannabis from class B to class C, the majority of the class B seizures involve amphetamines. The number of amphetamine seizures in 2005/06 increased by approximately 12% compared with 2004/05, from 985 to 1,099. In 2006/07 the number of amphetamine seizures decreased by 4% compared with the 2005/06 figure, from 1,099 to 1,051.
Class C Drugs including cannabis
The proportion of seizures recovering class C drugs has gone down in the past four years (from 85% in 2003/04 to 72% in 2006/07).
Since the reclassification of cannabis from class B to class C, the majority of class C seizures involve cannabis in its various preparations. In 2005/06 approximately 94% of seizures within Class C category recovered cannabis and in 2006/07, approximately 89% of seizures within the class C category recovered cannabis.
The total number of drug seizures recovering cannabis in 2005/06 saw a small increase compared to 2004/05, from 19,216 to 19,319. In 2006/07 the total number of cannabis seizures decreased by approximately 31% from 19,319 to 13,364 seizures.
Quantities of drugs seized
Large seizures
There can be considerable fluctuation in the quantities of drugs seized over time. Whilst most drug seizures consist of relatively small quantities, annual totals of drugs seized can be greatly influenced by a small number of large seizures.
The current national strategy is for intelligence led operations against the main drug dealers. This may result in a lower number of seizures, but conversely the quantity of drugs seized and their value will be high. These high profile operations may result in greater disruption to the drugs trade, which, whilst having a positive effect, may reduce the number of seizures made. Care must be taken when comparing quantities.
When large quantities are present in the raw data, the relevant police force was contacted for confirmation. Each police force holds definitive data about their seizures.
Class A
The quantity of heroin seized in 2004/05 was two and a half times greater than that seized in 2003/04, increasing from 71.0 kg to 179.3 kg. In 2005/06 the quantity of heroin seized decreased by 43% when compared to 2004/05, falling from 179.3 kg to 101.6 kg. In 2006/07 the quantity of heroin further decreased by 18% to 83.8 kg. This illustrates the large fluctuations encountered when examining the quantities of drugs seized.
The quantity of crack nearly trebled in 2005/06 compared to 2004/05, an increase from 1.1 kg to 3.1 kg and then approximately trebled again from 2005/06 to 2006/07, from 3.1 kg to 9.2 kg.
The quantity of cocaine increased by 75 per cent in the period 2004/05 to 2005/06, increasing from 44.2 kg to 77.5 kg. The quantity of cocaine continued to increase in 2006/07 from 77.5 kg to 93.5 kg. There has been more than a two-fold increase in the quantity of cocaine seized in the two year period from 2004/05 to 2006/07.
The amount of methadone seized in 2005/06 increased by approximately 48% compared with 2004/05, from approximately 16.3 litres to 24.2 litres. However, in 2006/07 the amount of methadone decreased by approximately 15% to 20.6 litres, which corresponds to a 26% increase when compared to 2004/05.
The number of doses of Ecstasy-type drug recovered continued to decrease from 2001/02 till 2005/06 and then saw a 16% increase in 2006/07 to 146.3 thousand doses.