Drug Seizures Drop in London; National Haul Reaches Record Highs

London police seized fewer drugs last year, with the number dropping by 18% from the year before, according to new figures reported by Adam Care. Across England and Wales, authorities seized over 119 tonnes of illegal substances, these drugs had a street value of £3 billion.

London had 28,088 drug seizures, which is also a 42% decrease from ten years ago. It’s worth noting that London police changed how they report seizures, and this might affect the recent numbers a bit.

Some police forces seized drugs more often than others. Cleveland Police had many seizures per person, while Thames Valley Police, covering Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire, had the fewest seizures.

In England and Wales, seizures increased by 13%. Police and Border Force worked together and made 217,644 drug seizures. Border Force seizures hit a new high, finding drugs 40,639 times, a 57% increase.

Police seized record amounts of some drugs, finding 28 tonnes of cocaine and 85 tonnes of herbal cannabis. Heroin seizures fell sharply; only 441kg were recovered, the lowest amount since 1989.

Lee Fernandes spoke about drug trends, noting users want cheaper drugs now and seek substances not yet Class A. Young people use cannabis and cannabis vapes, then move to ketamine and synthetic drugs. These drugs are harder to classify, creating challenges for police forces.

In London, police seized these amounts: 939kg of cocaine powder, 31kg of heroin, and 1,778kg of cannabis.

Seema Malhotra commented on illegal drugs, saying, “The government will protect the public.” She added smugglers will face the law.