To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested and (b) convicted of drug trafficking offences as a result of National Crime Squad operations in 2005-06. (219422)

In 2005-06, the National Crime Squad reported 562 arrests in connection with the trafficking of Class A drugs. During the same period there were 309 convictions in connection with the trafficking of Class A drugs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested on suspicion of and (b) convicted of drug trafficking offences as a result of operations by the Serious Organised Crime Agency in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08. (219479)

In 2006-07, SOCA recorded that there were 601 arrests and 236 convictions in operations where drug trafficking offences was the primary threat. Similarly in 2007-08 there were 774 arrests and 243 convictions in operations where drug trafficking was the primary threat.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) apprehended, (b) charged and (c) imprisoned for drug importation and dealing offences as a result of maritime operations carried out by (i) the UK Border Agency and (ii) other agencies involved in border patrols in each year since 1997. (220110)

From April 2008, the UK Border Agency took on responsibility for maritime operations which had previously been undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs and were formerly the responsibility of HM Customs and Excise.

Arrest, prosecution and sentencing results arising from maritime operations are not distinguished from those arising from other border operations. Therefore, the information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost to the business.

UKBA Maritime assets work regularly in support of operations by both the police and SOCA in order to provide the earliest possible interdiction of importation attempts and suspected attempts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the value of drugs seized in maritime operations by (a) the UK Border Agency and (b) other agencies involved in border patrols, expressed in 2008 prices, in each year since 1997. (220111)

From April 2008, the UK Border Agency took on responsibility for maritime operations which had previously been undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs and were formerly the responsibility of HM Customs and Excise.

Seizure results arising from maritime operations are not distinguished from those arising from other border operations. As a result of this, the information requested could only be obtained by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost to the business.