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Illegal Drugs

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what co-operation is in place between his Department and the police service in Jamaica to reduce the amount of illegal drugs being smuggled into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [56534]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding Answer 21 May 2002]: I had discussions with the Minister of National Security and the Commissioner of the Jamaica Constabulary Force during my visit to Jamaica in April 2002. There is already close co-operation between the Jamaica

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Constabulary Force and the law enforcement authorities in this country and work is in hand to make that co-operation more effective in reducing the volume of drugs being trafficked to the United Kingdom from Jamaica.

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My right hon. Friend, the Minister for the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Boateng) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Jamaican Government on 22 May. The memorandum provides a number of measures designed to stem the flow of cocaine into United Kingdom on flights from Jamaica.

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