BRITAIN has become the heroin capital of Europe with the largest number of seizures and one of the highest levels of abuse, says a United Nations report published this week.

The UK accounts for most of the heroin seizures in Europe and, after Luxembourg and Portugal, has the most heroin users.

Almost all the heroin seized and consumed in the UK comes from Afghanistan, says the report by the International Narcotics Control Board, a body founded by the UN.

Britain also has the highest level of amphetamine abuse anywhere in Europe and is the third largest consumer of ecstasy (MDMA), after Ireland and the Czech Republic.

The study shows that cocaine abuse is on the increase in Britain, although it is stabilising in the rest of western Europe.

It says that in the UK at least 10% of those between 15 and 34 have tried the class A drug. The UK has also become one of the gateways through which about 200 tons of cocaine enter Europe each year.

Cocaine accounted for up to 20% of all drug seizures in Britain in 2002. In 2000 up to four tons of cocaine were seized.

The report says that cannabis abuse has been on the increase over the past 10 years, in line with the rest of Europe and links the rise in its use with the increasing public debate over the amount of harm that the drug causes.

The global study notes that Morocco is the largest producer of cannabis, accounting for 60% of seizures across the world.

The report finds that illicit internet pharmacies are becoming an important conduit for smugglers. It says that several billion transactions are made over the internet each year, though some of the drugs that are sold are fake and others are even more dangerous than the actual substances ostensibly for sale.

A spokeswoman from Drugscope, one of Britain’s largest anti-drugs charities, said the study confirmed that Britain has an appalling drug abuse record in Europe.

“The UK traditionally has higher levels of drug use than other European countries. Although the figures are alarming, we have to recognise that drug abuse has stabilised here in the past few years,” she said.

Home Office figures show that heroin seizures have been on the increase in the past 10 years reaching a peak in 2001, with 18,260 seizures in the UK.

The total weight of heroin seized in 2001 was 3.9 tons and in 2002 2.9 tons.

The report says that the United States is the single largest market despite the huge efforts by law enforcement agencies. The study expresses grave concerns about the large-scale trafficking and manufacture of drugs in the whole North American region.

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