TNAG-1709-FCO40-2384-Hong-Kong-narcotics-offences-and-drug-trafficking-1988 — Page 107

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12.

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ICDAIT SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS THE CULMINATION OF

INTERNATIONAL EFFORT MORE A LAUNCH PAD FOR A MORE CONCERTED

ATTACK ON THE DRUGS PROBLEM. THERE IS MUCH MORE WORK TO BE DONE,

FOR EXAMPLE THE NEW UN CONVENTION ON ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING.

13.

UN DRUGS BODIES HAVE A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY

IN FOLLOW-UP TO ENSURE A SUSTAINED COHERENT AND UNIFIED APPROACH.

14.

THE BOLIVIANS HAVE PROPOSED THAT A FURTHER CONFERENCE SHOULD

BE HELD IN LA PAZ IN 1992. WHILE IT IS TOO SOON TO SAY WHETHER

HMG SHOULD SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL, WE SEE NO REASON TO OPPOSE IT.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

15. NO COUNTRY IS IMMUNE TO THE DRUGS PROBLEM OR CAN TACKLE IT

ALONE. MR HOGG TOLD ICDAIT, 'THE DRUG TRAFFICKER IS A CITIZEN OF

THE WORLD IF EVER THERE WAS ONE' AND 'INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

IS NOT A LUXURY, IT IS A NECESSITY'. HMG HAVE PLAYED A LEADING

ROLE IN ENSURING THE DRUGS ISSUE IS KEPT AT THE FOREFRONT OF

INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSIONS, EG CHOGM. DURING OUR EC PRESIDENCY,

WE INITIATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COORDINATED EUROPEAN DRUGS

POLICY: DRUGS WAS DISCUSSED AT THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL. RECENT

SEIZURES OF POUNDS STERLING 9M COCAINE IN LONDON (LINKED TO

COOPERATION WITH COLOMBIA, THE WORLD'S MAIN COCAINE PROCESSING

CENTRE, AND THE US DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY)

AND POUNDS STERLING 10M HASHISH IN SPAIN

(FOLLOWING MONTHS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN AGENCIES IN SPAIN,

NETHERLANDS AND UK) SHOW WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED BY CLOSE

COOPERATION BETWEEN DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

MONEY LAUNDERING

16.

HMG HAVE LIKEWISE ENCOURAGED COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF

MONEY LAUNDERING. WE HAVE SIGNED NARCOTICS AGREEMENTS WITH

CARIBBEAN DEPENDENCIES AND WE HOPE TO ENTER INTO RECIPROCAL

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