Police Recorded Drug Seizures and Arrests in Northern Ireland: Monthly Update to 31 August 2016

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1 Police Service of Northern Ireland Police Recorded Drug Seizures and Arrests in Northern Ireland: Monthly Update to 216 Published 21 September 216

2 Police Recorded Drug Seizures and Arrests in Northern Ireland Published 21 September 216 This bulletin provides the most recent statistics on drug seizures and arrests recorded by the police in Northern Ireland to 216. Figures dating back to 1 April 216 are provisional and will be subject to change until the finalised 216/17 figures are published in May 217. The bulletin includes details of the number of drug seizure incidents, the weight or quantity of drugs seized by drug type and format and the number of persons arrested for drug offences. All statistics referred to in this bulletin, along with supplementary information are available in the accompanying supporting spreadsheet which can be downloaded from the PSNI Drug Seizure Statistics website. Please note that the drugs seized by the Border Agency are reported by the Home Office and therefore are excluded from the PSNI figures in accordance with national guidance and also in order to avoid duplication of the statistics when collated at UK level. Contents Page Overview 3 Section 1 Seizure Incidents 3 Section 2 Quantity of Drugs Seized 5 Section 3 Commercial Cannabis Cultivation Statistics 6 Section 4 Drug-Related Arrests 7 Appendices 8 Notes 1 Figures, Tables and Charts Table 1 Key statistics for drug seizure incidents, commercial cultivation of cannabis and drug 3 arrests in the 216 Figure 1 Drug Seizure Incidents since 26/7 3 Figure 2 Number of drug seizure incidents by month in the 216 compared 3 with the previous 12 months Figure 3 Number of drug seizure incidents by drug type in the Figure 4 Number of drug seizure incidents by policing district in the Table 2 Incidents involving the seizure of cannabis plants in the Table 3 Cannabis farm discoveries by policing district in the Figure 5 Drug-related arrests since 26/7 7 Page Figure 6 Number of drug-related arrests by month in the 216 compared with the previous 12 months Table 4a Drug seizure incidents by type and format in the 216 compared with the previous 12 months Table 4b Quantity of drugs seized by type and format in the 216 Table 5 Number of drug seizures and arrests by policing district in the

3 Number of drug seizure incidents Number of seizure incidents Overview Table 1 Key statistics for drug seizure incidents, commercial cultivation of cannabis and drug arrests in the Drug seizure incidents 5,298 5,38 1 (.2%) Incidents classified as cannabis farms (-57.3%) Drug-related arrests 2,951 2, (-5.2%) Section 1 Seizure Incidents In the 12 months from 1 September 215 to 216, there were 5,38 drug seizure incidents in Northern Ireland, an increase of.2% on the 5,298 seizure incidents recorded in the previous 12 months. The number of drug seizure incidents increased year on year since 26/7 to reach a ten year high of 5,597 seizure incidents in 215/16, more than double the number of incidents recorded in the financial year 26/7. At 5,38, the number of seizure incidents in the latest 12 months represents a decrease of 5.2% on the 215/16 level. Figure 1 Drug seizure incidents since 26/7 6, 5, 4,474 4,825 5,14 5,597 5,38 4, 3, 2,59 2,968 3,198 3,319 3,564 3,92 2, 1, 26/7 27/8 28/9 29/1 21/11 211/12 212/13 213/14 214/15 215/16 12 months to Aug 216 Seizure incidents from 1 April 216 are provisional, as there will be records still undergoing the validation process. As a result further incidents may be added to the current figures, in particular for August 216, the latest month on record. Monthly fluctuations can be affected by specific targeted campaigns, such as Operation Torus, which ran in the latest 12 months from 7 September to 31 October 215 and from 1 February to 14 March 216 and focussed on the issue of street level drug dealing. Figure Number of drug seizure incidents by month in the 216 compared with the previous 12 months Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep'14 to Aug'15 Sep'15 to Aug'16 3

4 Number of seizure incidents Number of drug seizure incidents Seizure Incidents by Drug Type Cannabis was the most commonly seized drug over the past 12 months, with 4,224 seizures involving cannabis being recovered. This is 113 more than the number of seizure incidents in the 31 August 215, an increase of 2.7%. The second most commonly seized drug was cocaine. There were 548 incidents involving the seizure of cocaine in the 216, up from 524 during the previous 12 months (an increase of 24 incidents). Benzodiazepine seizures accounted for the third largest number of seizure incidents in the 31 August 216 with 51 seizures, 163 fewer than during the previous 12 months (673 incidents). The most commonly seized benzodiazepine was diazepam (492 incidents). Further information of seizure incidents by drug type is available in the supporting spreadsheet. Figure 3 Number of drug seizure incidents by drug type in the 216 4,5 4, 4,111 4,224 3,5 3, 2,5 2, 1,5 1, Cocaine (Class A) Ecstasy / MDMA (Class A) LSD (Class A) Opiates (Class A) Amphetamines (Class B) Cannabis (Class B) Psychoactive Substances (Class B) Benzodiazepines (Class C) Other Drugs Note: A seizure incident can involve more than one drug type, seizure figures for individual drugs cannot be added together to produce totals. Seizure Incidents by Police District The largest number of seizure incidents occurred in Belfast City policing district with 1,59 incidents recorded, an increase of 71 seizure incidents (4.7%) compared with the 12 month period to 215. This was followed by Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon and Lisburn & Castlereagh City policing districts where 493 and 466 drug seizure incidents respectively were recorded. Over the same time period, the largest increase in the number seizure incidents were encountered in Antrim & Newtownabbey policing district (1), while the largest decreases were observed in Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon (-147) and Newry, Mourne & Down (-56). Figure 4 Number of drug seizure incidents by policing district in the 216 1,8 1,6 1,4 1,2 1, 1,59 1, Belfast City Lisburn & Castlereagh City Ards & North Down Newry, Mourne & Down Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Mid Ulster Fermanagh & Omagh Derry City & Strabane Causeway Coast & Glens Mid & East Antrim Antrim & Newtownabbey

5 Section 2 Quantity of Drugs Seized Class A The weight of cocaine powder seized in the 216 (63.5kg) was lower than that seized in the previous 12 months (77.1kg), a decrease of 17.6%. There were 2,68 ecstasy tablets recovered by the PSNI in the 216 compared with 11,63 ecstasy tablets seized in the period ending 215. The weight of ecstasy powder seized in the latest 12 months was 1,11.2g, a decrease on that seized from 1 September 214 to 215 (1,974.9g). In the 216, there were 2,99 LSD microdots seized, a decrease of 16.4% on the previous 12 months when the seizures of 2,511 LSD microdots were recovered. The amount of opiate powder seized by the PSNI in the past 12 months was 2,943.3g, up from 186.4g in the 215. The volume of liquid opiates seized in the 216 was 482.5mls, an increase from that recovered in the previous 12 months (8.5mls). Class B The weight of herbal cannabis seized in the 216 (25.5kg) was 16.% higher than that in the previous 12 months when 216.kg were recovered. Most of the herbal cannabis was seized in Belfast City policing district (84.5kg). There was a sharp decrease in the quantity of cannabis resin seized from 1 September 215 to 216 when compared with the previous financial year (22.4kg down from 184.8kg). As with cannabis in herbal format, most of the cannabis resin was recovered in Belfast City policing district (8.4kg). There were 3,581 cannabis plants recovered in the 216. This represents a 59.4% decrease on the previous 12 months when 8,83 plants were seized. The amount of amphetamine powder seized by the PSNI in the past 12 months was 3.6kg, a steep decrease on that seized in the previous 215 (32.3kg). The weight of psychoactive stimulants powder seized in the 216 (12.9kg) is more than that seized in the previous 12 months when 1.4kg was recovered. While mephedrone powder accounted for.4kg from 1 September 215 to 216, down from.4kg in the previous 12 months, other substances accounted for 12.9kg of the psychoactive stimulants powder seized. One in particular was pentylone powder; more than 12.8kg of this substance was seized in September 215 in Antrim & Newtownabbey. Class C The majority of benzodiazepine seizures in the past 12 months consisted of diazepam tablets (186,739). This was 41,379 more tablets than that seized in the 215, an increase of 28.5%. The quantity of other benzodiazepine tablets recovered in the August 216 was over 17 times that of those seized in the previous 12 months (39,66 tablets, up from 2,232). Other controlled drugs Some of the controlled substances recovered do not fall under one of the categories reported on in this publication due to having been less commonly seized in Northern Ireland or because of their novelty nature. Of those substances seized in the 216, noticeable seizures included 11.9kg of class A powder, including such products as chloroamphetamine and fluoromethamphetamine and 1, tablets of class C zopiclone. The majority of ampoules seized consisted of class C anabolic steroids (2,13 ampoules). Not all drugs are tested to authenticate substances. When testing is not applied, the drug seizure statistics are classified in accordance with the investigating officer s assessment of the drug type seized based on their experience and knowledge of the illegal drug trade in Northern Ireland. 5

6 Section 3 Commercial Cannabis Cultivation Statistics Incidents Involving the Seizure of Cannabis Plants by PSNI Of all incidents involving the seizure of cannabis plants or cannabis cultivation equipment in the 216, 44 were classified as a cannabis farm as per the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) definition 1. This is a 57.3% decrease on the previous 12 month period ending 215, when 13 incidents were classified as a cannabis farm. In the past 12 months, 29 of those incidents involved the recovery of 25 plants or more, while 15 incidents involved the discovery of less than 25 plants but in locations that were deemed, due to the equipment recovered, to be qualified as cannabis farms as per the NPCC definition. Table 2 Incidents involving the seizure of cannabis plants in the 216 compared with the previous 12 months Cannabis farms Cases where 25 plants or more were seized Cases where no plants or less than 25 plants were seized and factory equipment was recovered Total number of incidents classified as cannabis farms Cannabis Farm Discoveries by Policing District The highest number of cannabis farms discovered by the PSNI between 1 September 215 and 216 was in Belfast City policing district (1) followed by Mid & East Antrim (7). All policing districts have seen a decrease in the number of cannabis farms discovered in the latest 12 months compared with the period ending 215 with the exception of Causeway Coast & Glens policing district (six discoveries, up from four in the previous 12 months). In particular, there was only one discovery in each of Newry, Mourne & Down policing district in the past 12 months, compared with 12 in the 215. Table 3 Cannabis farm discoveries by policing district in the 216 compared with the previous 12 months Policing district Belfast City Lisburn & Castlereagh City Ards & North Down Newry, Mourne & Down Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Mid Ulster Fermanagh & Omagh Derry City & Strabane Causeway Coast & Glens Mid & East Antrim Antrim & Newtownabbey Northern Ireland NPCC definition: Cultivation of cannabis should be regarded as commercial if: Twenty-five or more cannabis plants, at any stage of growth, are being or have been grown OR Any premises shall be deemed a cannabis farm if the premises, or part therein, have been adapted to such an extent that normal usage would be inhibited and usually present within the premises, or part therein, are items solely concerned for the production of cannabis, i.e.: hydroponics system, high intensity lighting, ventilation/extraction fans, any other associated equipment, and/or abstraction of electricity. 6

7 Number of drug seizure incidents Number of arrests Section 4 Drug-Related Arrests In the 216, 2,797 persons were arrested and processed through custody for drug offences. This constitutes a decrease of 5.2% on the previous 215 when 2,951 persons were arrested. The number of persons arrested for drug offences increased year on year from 1,726 in 26/7 to 2,867 arrests in 213/14, before decreasing slightly to 2,831 during financial year 214/15. The number of persons arrested for drug offences increased to 2,953 during financial year 215/16, the highest level recorded in over ten years. The current level of 2,797 persons arrested from 1 September 215 to 216 is 156 arrests lower than the 215/16 level. Figure 5 Drug-related arrests since 26/7 3,5 3, 2,5 2, 1,726 1,896 2,14 2,25 2,435 2,543 2,784 2,867 2,831 2,953 2,797 1,5 1, 5 26/7 27/8 28/9 29/1 21/11 211/12 212/13 213/14 214/15 215/16 12 months to Aug 216 Figure 6 35 Number of drug-related arrests by month in the 216 compared with the previous 12 months Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep'14 to Aug'15 Sep'15 to Aug'16 The number of persons arrested for drug offences in the 216 showed less monthly variation than during the previous 12 months. Indeed, the number of persons arrested in the latest 12 months ranged from 199 in June 216 (the lowest level over the past two years) to 256 in September 215, compared with a range in the 215 fluctuating from 28 persons arrested in January 215 to 292 in October 214. The number of persons arrested for drug offences in the 216 varied across the policing districts, ranging from 19 drug arrests in Mid Ulster policing district to 926 in Belfast City policing district. 7

8 Appendices Table 4a Drug seizure incidents by type and format in the 216 compared with the previous 12 months Drugs Seized 1 Number of Incidents Cocaine Powder (Class A) Wraps Ecstasy Powder (Class A) Tablets Wraps 1 1 LSD Microdots (Class A) Powder 2-2 Tablets Opiates Ampoules (Class A) Millilitres Patches Powder Tablets 5 5 Twists Wraps Amphetamine Powder (Class B) Tablets Wraps Cannabis Herbal 3,469 3,499 3 (Class B) Joints Oil Plants Resin Psychoactive Millilitres 2-2 Stimulants Powder (Class B) Tablets 1 1 Wraps 3-3 Benzodiazepines Powder (Class C) Tablets Other Ampoules Drugs 2 Crystals 1-1 Herbal Microdots 1 1 Millilitres Patches 1-1 Powder Psilocin Tablets Wraps Not all drug seizures are subject to forensic testing to officially confirm the drug type seized. When testing is not applied, the PSNI s drug seizure statistics are classified in accordance with the investigating officer s assessment of the drug type seized based on their experience and knowledge of the illegal drug trade in Northern Ireland. 2 Other drugs include anabolic steroids, GHB, ketamine, khat, piperazines and magic mushrooms. 3 As each seizure incident can involve more than one drug type, seizure figures for individual drugs cannot be added together to produce totals. 8

9 Table 4b Quantity of drugs seized by type and format in the 216 compared with the previous 12 months Drugs Seized 1 Quantities Cocaine Powder (kg) (Class A) Wraps Ecstasy Powder (gms) 1, , (Class A) Tablets 11,63 2,68-8,383 Wraps. 1 1 LSD Microdots 2,511 2, (Class A) Powder (gms) Tablets Opiates Ampoules.. (Class A) Millilitres Patches Powder (kg) Tablets Twists Wraps Amphetamine Powder (kg) (Class B) Tablets Wraps Cannabis Herbal (kg) (Class B) Joints Oil (gms) Plants 8,83 3, Resin (kg) Psychoactive Millilitres Stimulants Powder (kg) (Class B) Tablets Wraps Benzodiazepines Powder (gms) (Class C) Tablets 148,27 226,888 78,861 Other Ampoules 5,84 2,14-3,7 Drugs 2 Crystals (gms) Herbal (gms) Microdots Millilitres Patches Powder (kg) Psilocin Tablets 7, ,754 11,73 Wraps Note: In this table, where the weight of drugs seized is., this means the weight seized was less.5 grams, Mls or kgs while. indicates that no drugs were seized. More detailed information on the drugs and quantities seized is published in the supporting spreadsheet. 1 Not all drug seizures are subject to forensic testing to officially confirm the drug type seized. When testing is not applied, the PSNI s drug seizure statistics are classified in accordance with the investigating officer s assessment of the drug type seized based on their experience and knowledge of the illegal drug trade in Northern Ireland. 2 Other drugs include anabolic steroids, GHB, ketamine, khat, piperazines and magic mushrooms. 9

10 Table 5 Number of drug seizures and arrests by policing district in the 216 Policing District 215 Seizure Incidents Arrests 216 Belfast City 1,519 1, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Ards & North Down Newry, Mourne & Down Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Mid Ulster Fermanagh & Omagh Derry City & Strabane Causeway Coast & Glens Mid & East Antrim Antrim & Newtownabbey Northern Ireland 5,298 5,38 1 2,951 2, Notes Statistics on drug seizures are based on electronic and paper returns that are completed by police officers when they make a drug seizure. The statistics are checked for completeness with local districts and with the PSNI Organised Crime Branch and are also cross-referenced against other internal records of drug seizures. Not all drugs are tested to authenticate substances. When testing is not applied, the PSNI s drug seizure statistics are classified in accordance with the investigating officer s assessment of the drug type seized based on their experience and knowledge of the illegal drug trade in Northern Ireland. The statistics contained in this bulletin are based on drug seizures that were recorded by the police. As a result, increases or decreases in the quantity and type of drugs seized along with drug-related arrests can be affected by specific targeted police operations thus accounting for some of the year on year variations (i.e. increased police enforcement action can result in increased seizures and arrests). Also, not all drug use will come to the attention of the police and therefore these statistics should be considered along with other measures of drug prevalence in Northern Ireland for users to get a more comprehensive overview of the drug situation in Northern Ireland. Copies of this bulletin are available from the PSNI website. to policing boundaries as a result of implementing the Review of Public Administration: As part of the Review of Public Administration which came into effect on 1 April 215, PSNI has moved from eight to eleven policing districts. The geographic breakdown presented in this bulletin and in the accompanying spreadsheet is on the basis of these new boundaries and the figures presented here have been compiled from the new policing model accordingly. Annual reports are available back to 23/4 on the PSNI website and during the financial year, drug seizure statistics are published on a monthly basis and are provisional and may be subject to change. Statistics on drug seizures by type and format at policing district level are published separately in the accompanying supporting excel spreadsheet. We welcome comment and feedback on these statistics. If you would like to forward your views, receive notification of new publications or be kept informed of developments relating to PSNI statistics, please your contact details using the address provided below. For further information about drug seizure statistics for Northern Ireland, or to contact PSNI Statistics Branch: statistics@psni.police.uk; Write to: Drug Seizure Statistician, PSNI Statistics Branch, Lisnasharragh, 42 Montgomery Road, Belfast, BT6 9LD; or Telephone: ext