TNAG-1430-FCO40-1913-Hong-Kong-Independent-Commission-Against-Corruption-(ICAC)-1985 — Page 53

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trafficking. We intend to introduce a sliding scale which varies

according to the size of the fine imposed, leading to a maximum of ten

years' imprisonment in default of a fine exceeding £1,000,000. Any

period of imprisonment in default would, of course, be served in addition to any determinate sentence of imprisonment imposed for the offence of drug trafficking itself.

THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

21. The Select Committee rightly emphasised that drug trafficking is an international problem, and internation co-operation is

vitally important in combating the trafickers. Accordingly it is proposed that the new measures should be reinforced by provisions

enabling effect to be given to reciprocal enforcement agreements

with other countries, in particular, for instance, so that an order made by a foreign court following a confiction of a drug trafficking offence can be enforced against assets held in England and Wales,

and vice versa.

22.

The Government is also giving strong support to proposals for a new United Nations Convention to deal with all aspects of

international drug trafficking. In particular, the Government

favours the inclusion of measures to facilitate the international

tracing, freezing and forfeiture of drug traffickers' assets, and the extradition of traffickers, and the designation of drug

trafficking as an international crime so that prosecution can take

place anywhere in the world irrespective of where the offence was

committed. Only by co-ordinating national legislation and securing

really effective international co-operation can we ensure that there

will be no safe havens for the drug trafficker or his assets anywhere

in the world.

23. The Government considers that an attack on the enormous profits

made from drug trafficking is an essential element in any strategy

for combatting drug trafficking. We are confident that provisions

along the lines outlined above will provide the police and Customs and

the courts with the strong and effective powers which are essential