Subj: UK: Scottish DEA operational in six months



Date: 24 Sept, 1999



Source: Scotsman, The  (UK)







Scottish DEA operational in six months  





SCOTLAND'S new Drugs Enforcement Agency will become 

operational within the next six months, Angus MacKay, the 

deputy justice minister, announced yesterday, writes Stuart 

Nicolson.



Mr MacKay, who made the pledge during a debate on crime 

prevention, said that the need for the agency was 

highlighted by the fact that the tally of drugs-related 

deaths this year in the Strathclyde Police area alone are 

had risen to 108.



He said: "Within 150 days we will appoint a chief executive 

to head the agency. Very soon after that it will become 

operational."



Mr MacKay said that the battle against drugs would receive 

UKP4 million of government backing, which would be spent to 

fund an additional 200 police officers, roughly half of whom 

would be part of the agency itself, with the others 

dispersed among local police forces' own drug squads.



The DEA staff will be drawn from police, Customs and Excise 

and other law enforcement agencies.