Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an estimate of the level of seizures required to put a successful drug trafficker of (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) cannabis and (d) ecstasy out of business.

The level of seizures required putting a successful drug trafficker of (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) cannabis and (d) ecstasy out of business is impossible to estimate.

There are a number of variables which can affect the impact of disruptive activity.

Such variables include the type of commodity seized, for example drugs or cash/assets, the size and influence of a particular drug trafficking business and the roles of those arrested and convicted as a result of any seizure.

The Home Office recognises that disruption is not the only method for targeting SOC activity. The SOC strategy which was published in November 2018 outlines a set of capabilities which are designed to respond to the full range of serious and organised crime threats, including those posed by drug traffickers.

It highlights our four overarching objectives to achieve our aim:

1. Relentlessly disrupt and target action against highest harm and serious and organised criminal networks
2. Build the highest levels of defence and resilience in vulnerable people, communities, business and systems
3. Stop the problem at source, identifying and supporting those at risk of engaging in criminality
4. Establish a single whole-system approach, expanding our global reach and pooling skills and expertise with the private sector

In taking this approach, we aim to protect our citizens and our prosperity by leaving no safe space for serious and organised criminals to operate against us.