To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what seizures were made by Customs officials at (a) Newhaven, (b) Poole and (c) Isle of Wight ports in each of the last five years for which there are records of (i)Drugs, (ii) firearms, (iii) pornography, (iv) illegal meat, (v) cigarettes and tobacco and (vi) other goods; and if he will make a statement. [127153]
Seizures by number, and where applicable volume, for Drugs, firearms, cigarettes, pornography and other goods for the requested ports are as follows. Data for the financial years prior to 2000–01 are not available.
| 2002–03 | 2001–02 | 2000–01 | ||||
| Number of seizures (volumes in brackets where applicable) | Newhaven | Poole | Newhaven | Poole | Newhaven | Poole |
| Class A Drugs | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| (36.75kg) | (1.5kg) | |||||
| Firearms and ammunition | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a |
| (8) | (218) | (5) | ||||
| Pornography | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | n/a | n/a |
2002–03
| 2001–02
| 2000–01
| ||||
Number of seizures (volumes in brackets where applicable)
| Newhaven
| Poole
| Newhaven
| Poole
| Newhaven
| Poole
|
| Cigarettes | 43 | 81 | 157 | 173 | 17 | 92 |
| (3,863,276) | (2,949,678) | (370,520) | (2,480,239) | (60,060) | (712,140) | |
| Other' | 0 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| (11) | (1) | (8) | ||||
1 Includes gas canisters and offensive weapons. | ||||||
There are no recorded seizures of these commodities from the Isle of Wight ports for the period in question.
Responsibility for illegal imports of meat and animal products passed to Customs on 11 April 2003 from DEFRA. Customs have no recorded seizures of illegal meat from the requested ports for the period in question.