Brighton considers safe havens for drug addicts
Brighton and Hove could become the first place in the country to provide rooms where people would be able to use drugs safely.
Man smuggled heroin through Dover
A Surrey man has been jailed for five years after admitting heroin smuggling into Dover.
£6m drugs gang jailed
Members of an organised drugs ring who were supplying cocaine across the Canterbury and South Coast area have been jailed today.
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Cocaine smuggler jailed
A man from Ashford's been jailed for 6 years after pleading guilty to cocaine smuggling.
Canterbury Crown Court heard Border Force officers stopped a Dutch-registered lorry and questioned the driver, David Perry, at the Channel Tunnel in France.
They found 5 kilos of cocaine in the vehicle.
The drugs had a wholesale value of £200,000, with an estimate street value in excess of £500,000. Perry was arrested and pleaded guilty at a hearing at Canterbury Crown Court and was sentenced there on Monday 11 March.
Man smuggled heroin through Dover
A Surrey man has been jailed for five years after admitting heroin smuggling into Dover.
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Drug seizure: Border Force statement
Paul Morgan, Director Border Force South East & Europe, said: “Cocaine is a vile and destructive drug, which ruin the lives of users and the wider community. Border Force officers are on constant alert to keep illegal drugs and other banned substances out of the UK.”
Drugs seized: Man charged
Officials say that they have charged a 29-year-old man following the discovery of the drugs.
Artur Topalli, appeared at Canterbury Magistrates Court today charged with the attempted importation. He was remanded in custody.
He will next appear at Folkestone Magistrates Court on 7 March.
Drugs seized in Channel Tunnel
Border Force officers have seized drugs worth £320,000 at the Channel Tunnel entrance in France.
Eight kilos of cocaine were found on Tuesday when officers stopped a British-registered car
Officers searched the vehicle and found the drugs concealed within the car’s bodywork.
Brighton no longer 'drug death capital of the UK'
Brighton and Hove has seen a sharp fall in the rate of drug deaths in the city and relinquished its title as 'drugs death capital of UK'.
The city now stands eighth having seen the rate fall from 15 per 100,000 in 2010 to under nine in 2011, according to figures from the International Centre for Drug Policy at St George’s, University of London.
Tom Scanlon, the city's director of public health, said: “Hard work both in the planning stages and on the frontline by professionals has helped deliver this fall in the rate of drugs deaths and this is a real triumph. Everyone involved should take pride in what we have achieved.
"But there is more hard graft to be done to continue this downward trend. We have a relatively high number of drug users in the city which is why we also have high numbers of drug related deaths."
Cllr Rob Jarrett, chair of adult social care, added: "It is great news that we have lost the title of drugs death capital of the UK and I want to thank all the professionals involved that have helped achieve this.
"But we have to be mindful that any death caused by drugs is a tragedy. Brighton and Hove has had a problem with drug abuse for decades but through pioneering services tailored to users we are delivering real results to help combat the problem."
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£6m drugs gang jailed
Members of an organised drugs ring who were supplying cocaine across the Canterbury and South Coast area have been jailed today.
Read the full story£10.5m of cannabis found on lorry
A 32-year-old man from Bulgaria has been arrested and bailed, after Border Force officers seized approximately three and a half tonnes of cannabis at Newhaven.
The drugs have an estimated street value of £10.5million pounds. The haul was discovered on Wednesday 16th January after officers stopped and searched a Spanish registered lorry which had arrived on a ferry from Dieppe. The investigation continues.
– Carole Upshall, Director Border Force SouthBorder Force officers work round the clock, using the latest technology, sniffer dogs and their own expertise to stay one step ahead of those involved in the illegal drugs trade. Those who engage in illegal drug smuggling should be in no doubt that they will be targeted and brought to justice."
Drugs seized
The vehicle was searched and officers found the drugs in a bag in the vehicle.
A 38-year-old man from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham appeared at Canterbury Magistrates Court on November 5, charged with the attempted importation. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody. .
Video of police drugs raids
Sixteen people have been arrested following a series of drugs raids in Buckinghamshire
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