Government Controls

Information on the UK Home Affairs Department on Drugs.

Background Information from UK Government on Drug Trafficking

The UK Home Office web site provides up to date information regarding policy changes

For information on International co-operation to prevent Drug Smuggling, see The Economic and Social Research Council

Information from the UN's Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention

Case Study: Jamaica

This story provides an excellent example of the way that drug smuggling fits into the larger context of immigration within the British Isles.

Desperate social and economic conditions within Jamaica led to the rise of Drug Mules where people were paid to smuggle drugs into the UK. In 2001, it was estimated that 65% of all drugs came from Jamaica. Check out the full story from the BBC

To see how this customs issue leads into a wider discussion about tightening immigration laws, see the Caribbean Voice

Research

Drugs remains a central problem within the International community. In the context of the UK, its island status means that it extremely vulnerable to the business of drug smuggling.

Customs remain in the front-line of this continual struggle to keep drugs off the streets of Britain's towns and cities. This page has been designed to provide details on specific UK legislation but also links to International stories.

As with the other two sections on the All Along the Watchtower site, it is worth keeping in mind when researching Drug Smuggling how it fits into a broader framework regarding international crime. To this end, the links on the right hand side to the US and other countries will be useful.

Also, the laws imposed by Customs are part of a much larger context which deals with national security along with social and economic developments within countries. To follow up this line of research, follow the links to the UN and Eurasianet

Further Links

The Guardian Newspaper has published an investigation into Drug misuse within Britain. Contains useful information on the role of Customs.

PBS is a news service in the United States who have produced a special report on drug smuggling.

For a United States perspective, check out the US Customs most wanted list , Office of National Drug Control Police and the Inter American Drug Abuse Control Commission

For perspective on the International Drug Smuggling arena, see the following: Turkey , Mexico , Afghanistan , Iran , Russia , Taiwan , Peru , Chile , Saudi Arabia

More information about the link between Drug Trafficking and International Terrorism. For updates on developments within Central Asia, Southwest Asia and the Middle East, see Eurasianet