Drug Seizures by Scottish Police Forces, 2012-13

Statistical bulletin on drug seizures recorded by Scottish police forces in 2012-13


2. Commentary

There are two statutory requirements for the UK to provide data on drug seizures, which are managed by the UK Focal Point on Drugs, based at Public Health England. The UK Focal Point on Drugs collate drug seizures statistics from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and submit the data, provided for the UK Focal Point's annual report, to the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). These data inform the EMCDDA's annual report and the UNODC's annual World Drugs Report.

The minimum data requirements to satisfy these two obligations are to submit data on the number of drug seizures and the quantity of drugs seized for each of the following types of drugs: cocaine, crack, ecstasy-type substances, heroin, LSD, methylamphetamine, amphetamines, herbal cannabis, cannabis resin and cannabis plants. In addition to these ten drugs, this bulletin contains seizures data on methadone, morphine, barbiturates, mephedrone, anabolic steroids, diazepam, GHB, ketamine, temazepam and other benzodiazepines.

With only three years of comparable drug seizures data available, it is not possible to make any statements about long term trends for either the number of drug seizures or the quantity of drugs seized.

The statistics on drug seizures are used to inform National Outcome 9 - 'we live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger' as well as The Strategy for Justice in Scotland. These statistics are also used by a wide range of stakeholders to monitor trends, for policy research and development, and for research purposes. The 'Drug Seizures by Scottish Police Forces' statistical bulletin forms part of a series of bulletins produced by the Scottish Government on the criminal justice system.

The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 changed the policing landscape in Scotland, replacing the previous eight police forces, the Scottish Police Services Authority and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency from 1 April 2013. The Police Service of Scotland is now responsible for operational policing in Scotland and will be held to account by the Scottish Police Authority. The statistics set out in this bulletin cover the year immediately preceding the establishment of the Police Service of Scotland.

2.1 Number of drug seizures (Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a and 11b, and Charts 1 and 2)

  • The total number of drug seizures made by Scottish police forces in 2012-13 was 28,968, a decrease of 3% from the 29,734 seizures made in 2011-12. Since the publication of the 2011-12 bulletin, an additional 225 seizures have been recorded by Scottish police forces in 2011-12, an increase of 1% compared to the previously published total number of drug seizures. Please see Note 3.3.3 for further information on why the 2011-12 data have been revised.
  • The distribution of the number of drug seizures made in 2010-11 to 2012-13 can be seen in Chart 1. Please see Note 3.3.1 for further information on how the numbers of seizures are calculated. The total number of drug seizures recorded by three of the eight police forces increased between 2011-12 and 2012-13. The three forces that recorded an increase were Central Scotland Police, Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary and Strathclyde Police, with the largest increase being the 27% recorded by Central Scotland Police. There was a decrease in the total number of drug seizures for the other five police forces. Lothian and Borders Police recorded the largest decrease in total seizures, a decrease of 27%.

Chart 2: Location profile by police force area of total number of drug seizures compared to population1 profile, Scotland, 2012-13

Chart 2: location profile by police force area of total number of drug seizures compared to population profile, Scotland, 2012-13

1. Population estimates as at mid-year 2012 from the National Records of Scotland (http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/population/estimates/mid-year/2012/index.html)

  • Chart 2 shows the distribution of drug seizures made by Scottish police forces in 2012-13 by police force area compared to the proportion of the Scottish population they contained in 2012. As the Strathclyde Police force area contains the highest proportion of the Scottish population, 42% of the population in 2012, it is not unexpected that the highest proportion of drug seizures was recorded by Strathclyde Police. Strathclyde Police recorded 56% of the total number of drug seizures made by Scottish police forces in 2012-13, this compares to 51% in 2011-12.
  • Of the remaining seven police forces, six recorded the same or a smaller proportion of the total number of drug seizures made by Scottish police forces in 2012-13 compared to the population proportion that the police force area contained in 2012.
  • In 2012-13, 8% of drug seizures were recorded by Northern Constabulary, but only 6% of the Scottish population in 2012 was contained in the Northern Constabulary force area. However the Lothian and Borders Police force area contained 18% of the population of Scotland in 2012 but only 10% of the total number of drug seizures was recorded by that particular force.

2.1.1 Class A drugs (Tables 1, 2, 9a and 9b, and Chart 1)

  • There were 5,313 seizures involving class A drugs in 2012-13, with 18% of all seizures involving at least one class A drug. This is two percentage points less than in 2011-12. There has been a decrease of 9% in the number of seizures involving class A drugs between 2011-12 and 2012-13, which equates to 512 fewer seizures. The number of class A drug seizures recorded in 2011-12 has been revised up by 37 seizures, an increase of 1%. Please see Note 3.3.3 for further information on why the 2011-12 data have been revised.
  • As was the case in 2010-11 and 2011-12 for class A drugs, heroin accounted for the highest number of seizures in 2012-13. There were 2,329 seizures of heroin made by Scottish police forces in 2012-13, 464 fewer seizures than in 2011-12, a decrease of 17%. There has been a 32% decrease in the number of heroin seizures between 2010-11 and 2012-13, with 1,088 fewer seizures in 2012-13.
  • Within each of the eight Scottish police forces in 2012-13, with the exception of Strathclyde Police, heroin was the most seized class A drug. For Strathclyde Police, the highest number of class A drug seizures in 2012-13 involved cocaine. Heroin was the second most seized class A drug by Strathclyde Police in 2012-13.
  • In Scotland, the second most common class A drug seized in 2012-13 was cocaine, this was also the case in both 2010-11 and 2011-12. There was a 4% increase in cocaine seizures, from 2,060 seizures in 2011-12 to 2,140 seizures in 2012-13. Cocaine was the second most seized class A drug in 2012-13 by the other seven police forces.
  • Of all the seizures that involved class A drugs in 2012-13, 44% involved a seizure of heroin and 40% involved a seizure of cocaine. The percentage of class A seizures involving heroin decreased by four percentage points between 2011-12 and 2012-13, while the percentage involving cocaine increased by five percentage points.
  • The number of seizures involving methadone almost halved from 255 in 2011‑12 to 132 in 2012-13. There was a decrease of more than a half recorded in five of the eight police forces; Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, Grampian Police, Lothian and Borders Police, Northern Constabulary and Strathclyde Police. The largest decrease of 72% was recorded by Grampian Police.
  • The number of seizures involving crack more than doubled from 154 in 2010‑11 to 337 in 2011-12. Following this, there was a 45% decrease in crack seizures recorded between 2011-12 and 2012-13. The majority of crack seizures recorded in Scotland, in the three year period covered by this bulletin, have been made by Grampian Police. The large changes in the numbers of crack seizures in Scotland are largely as a result of the fluctuations in the number of crack seizures made by Grampian Police. Grampian Police made 82 crack seizures in 2010-11, this increased to 224 in 2011-12 and then decreased to 124 in 2012-13.
  • Seizures involving ecstasy-type substances increased from 441 in 2011-12 to 553 in 2012-13, an increase of 25% in the number of seizures. The number of seizures of ecstasy-type substances has now more than doubled since 2010‑11. Two thirds of all ecstasy-type substances seizures in 2012-13 were recorded by just two forces, namely Northern Constabulary and Strathclyde Police.
  • In each of the three years covered by this bulletin, there have been limited numbers of seizures involving LSD, methylamphetamine, morphine and 'other class A' drugs. The number of seizures involving LSD and methylamphetamine were particularly low, with less than ten seizures involving either of these types of drugs in any of the three years.

2.1.2 Class B drugs (Tables 1, 3, 10a and 10b, and Chart 1)

  • In Scotland, there was an increase of 8% in the number of class B seizures between 2011-12 and 2012-13. There were 22,185 seizures involving class B drugs in 2012-13, with 77% of all seizures involving at least one class B drug. This is an increase of eight percentage points from the 69% of all seizures in 2011-12. The number of seizures involving at least one class B drug has increased by 24% since 2010-11. There has been a revision upwards of 165 in the number of class B drug seizures recorded in 2011-12, an increase of 1%. Please see Note 3.3.3 for further information on why the 2011‑12 data have been revised.
  • Of the 22,185 seizures of class B drugs recorded by Scottish police forces in 2012-13, 21,169 of them involved a seizure of at least one type of cannabis, this being 95% of all class B drug seizures. The largest number of cannabis seizures involved herbal cannabis, 12,934 seizures, followed by cannabis resin, 8,462 seizures, and finally there were 1,106 seizures that involved cannabis plants. The number of seizures of herbal cannabis increased by 34% between 2011-12 and 2012-13. Seizures of herbal cannabis have almost doubled since 2010-11. However the number of seizures of cannabis resin and cannabis plants decreased by 14% and 4%, respectively, between 2011‑12 and 2012-13.
  • There were 304 fewer seizures of amphetamines in 2012-13 compared to 2011-12, a decrease of 31%, largely driven by the decrease in the number of amphetamines seizures recorded by Strathclyde Police. Strathclyde Police recorded 432 seizures of amphetamines in 2011-12, while in 2012-13 they recorded 199, a decrease of 233 in the number of seizures.
  • The number of seizures of mephedrone has remained broadly similar over the three year period covered by this bulletin. There were 194 seizures of mephedrone in 2012-13, a decrease of one seizure compared to 2011-12.
  • Seizures of 'other class B' drugs increased by 52% between 2011-12 and 2012-13. The increase in 'other class B' drugs seizures was driven by an almost five times increase in the number of 'other class B' drugs seizures recorded by Northern Constabulary. There were no seizures of barbiturates in either 2011-12 or 2012-13, with only four being made in 2010-11.

2.1.3 Class C drugs (Tables 1, 4, 11a and 11b, and Chart 1)

  • In Scotland, there were 3,544 seizures involving class C drugs in 2012-13, with 12% of all seizures involving at least one class C drug. This is a decrease of four percentage points compared to both 2010-11 and 2011-12 when 16% of all seizures involved at least one class C drug. The number of seizures involving class C drugs decreased by a quarter between 2011-12 and 2012‑13, a decrease of 1,175 seizures. The number of class C drug seizures recorded in 2011-12 has been revised up by 23 seizures, an increase of less than half of 1%. Please see Note 3.3.3 for further information on why the 2011-12 data have been revised.
  • In the three year period covered by this bulletin, seizures of class C drugs has made up the smallest proportion of the total number of seizures in each year.
  • The vast majority of seizures involving class C drugs in each of the years 2010-11 to 2012-13 involved the seizure of diazepam. The proportion of class C seizures involving a seizure of diazepam has increased each year from 85% in 2010-11 to 92% in 2012-13. This is despite a 24% decrease in diazepam seizures between 2011-12 and 2012-13. The decrease in seizures of diazepam is the main driver in the overall decrease in seizures involving class C drugs.
  • Of the 3,277 seizures of diazepam made in 2012-13, Strathclyde Police recorded 56% of them. This was also in the case in both 2010-11 and 2011‑12. The decrease in the number of diazepam seizures between 2011-12 and 2012-13 was largely as a result of a decrease of 646 in the number of diazepam seizures recorded by Strathclyde Police.
  • From the same family of drugs as diazepam, there were a further 60 seizures of temazepam in 2012-13, a decrease of two seizures compared to 2011-12. Furthermore, there were as 88 seizures of other benzodiazepines in 2012-13, more than double the 39 seizures recorded in 2011-12. The increase in seizures of other benzodiazepines is primarily as the result of Northern Constabulary recording 65 seizures in 2012-13 but having recorded no such seizures in 2011-12.
  • There were 125 seizures of 'other class C' drugs in 2012-13, a decrease of 64% between 2011-12 and 2012-13. Seizures of 'other class C' drugs are now 77% lower than in 2010-11. The decrease in 'other class C' drugs seizures between 2011-12 and 2012-13 was largely as result of the decrease in 'other class C' drugs seizures recorded by Strathclyde Police.
  • There have been limited numbers of seizures of anabolic steroids and ketamine in the three year period covered by this bulletin. There were 21 seizures of anabolic steroids in 2012-13, an increase of one seizure on the 20 seizures recorded in both 2010-11 and 2011-12. The number of ketamine seizures decreased by 44% to 19 seizures in 2012-13. Following two years where there had been one seizure each year, there were no seizures of GHB in 2012-13.

2.2 Quantities of drugs seized (Tables 5, 6, 7, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b, 14a and 14b)

2.2.1 Large seizures

  • There can be considerable fluctuation in the quantities of drugs seized over time and the quantities seized do not necessarily move in line with the number of seizures made. Whilst most drug seizures consist of relatively small quantities, annual quantities of drugs seized can be greatly influenced by a small number of large seizures.
  • Intelligence led operations against known drug dealers tend to result in a low number of seizures, but conversely the quantity of drugs seized and their value will be high. These high profile operations may result in greater disruption to the illicit drugs trade which, whilst having a positive effect, may reduce the number of seizures made. Care must be taken when comparing quantities.
  • When large quantities are present in the raw data, the relevant police force was contacted for confirmation. The police hold definitive data about their seizures.

2.2.2 Class A drugs (Tables 5, 12a and 12b)

  • In 2012-13, 281.3 kg of cocaine was seized by Scottish police forces. This is an increase of 180.8 kg compared to the quantity of cocaine seized in 2011‑12. The almost trebling in the quantity of cocaine seized is the result of an increase reported by Tayside Police. Tayside Police seized 2.4 kg of cocaine in 2011-12 with this increasing to 201.9 kg in 2012-13. Just one seizure of cocaine made by Tayside Police in 2012-13 resulted in 190.0 kg being seized. As a result, Tayside Police accounted for 72% of the quantity of cocaine seized in 2012-13. If this seizure is excluded, the quantity of cocaine seized in 2012-13 was 9.2 kg lower than in 2011-12.
  • The quantity of heroin seized decreased by 40.2 kg from 120.6 kg in 2011-12 to 80.4 kg in 2012-13. Six of the eight police forces recorded a decrease in the quantity of heroin seized. Northern Constabulary and Tayside Police both recorded increases in the quantity of heroin seized in 2012-13 compared to 2011-12. Almost two thirds of the quantity of heroin seized in 2012-13 was seized by Strathclyde Police.
  • The quantity of crack seized in Scotland in the three year period covered by this bulletin has been consistently much smaller than either the quantities of heroin or cocaine seized. In 2012-13, 5.5 kg of crack was seized by Scottish police forces. This is a decrease of 0.8 kg compared to 2011-12 and 1.7 kg lower than in 2010-11. Only three police forces seized crack in 2012-13. Grampian Police seized 4.9 kg of crack, which is almost 90% of the total quantity of crack seized in 2012-13. Lothian and Borders Police and Strathclyde Police each seized 0.3 kg of crack in 2012-13.
  • There was a substantial decrease in the number of tablets of ecstasy-type substances seized in 2012-13 compared to 2011-12, with 125,200 fewer tablets being seized. This vast decrease is a consequence of two very large seizures of ecstasy-type substances made by Strathclyde Police in 2011-12, these two seizures alone resulted in 135,200 tablets being seized. If these two seizures are omitted from the 2011-12 figures, then 10,000 more tablets of ecstasy-type substances were seized in 2012-13 than in 2011-12.
  • There was 20.5 litres of methadone seized by Scottish police forces in 2012‑13. This volume of methadone was less than half the volume seized in 2011-12. Seven of the eight forces recorded a decrease in the volume of methadone seized in 2012-13 compared to 2011-12, the exception being Tayside Police. Just under two thirds of the methadone seized in 2012-13 was seized by just two police forces, namely Lothian and Borders Police and Strathclyde Police. The other types of listed class A drugs were seized in much smaller quantities and there were little changes in the quantities seized between 2011-12 and 2012-13.
  • The 'Scottish Policing Performance Framework (SPPF) Annual Report, 2012‑13' contains information on the quantities of class A drugs seized by the police in Scotland. The last report was published in November 2013 and contains data for the period 2007-08 to 2012-13. This was the last time the SPPF Annual Report will be published following the establishment of the Police Service of Scotland on 1 April 2013.
  • The figures in the 'Drug Seizures by Scottish Police Forces' bulletin are not directly comparable with the figures in the 'SPPF Annual Report' due to the different time periods over which the data were collected. Accurate information about drug seizures may take up to nine months to be processed depending on the complexity of the operation and other operational factors. For further information please see Note 3.3.3. Furthermore, the figures contained in the 'SPPF Annual Report' are for all types of class A drugs and not just the subset included in this bulletin. However, this is likely to have a minimal effect on the figures, as the main types of class A drug are included in this bulletin.
  • The figures in the 'SPPF Annual Report' for the quantities of class A drugs seized in 2012-13 are lower than the figures shown in this bulletin.
  • The 'SPPF Annual Report' shows that the quantities of class A drugs seized, in terms of weight in kg and liquids in litres, decreased in the most recent year between 2011-12 and 2012-13. The quantity of class A drugs seized in terms of number of tablets increased between 2011-12 and 2012-13.
  • It should be noted that a substantial seizure of cocaine was not included in the SPPF data for Tayside Police as, at the time of publication of the 'SPPF Annual Report', it was understood this seizure had been attributed to another police force. It was later confirmed that this was not the case and that it should have been attributed to Tayside Police.
  • Over the six year period covered in the 'SPPF Annual Report' covers, the trend in the quantity of class A drugs seized in terms of weight in kg and liquids in litres had generally been upwards between 2007-08 and 2011-12. In terms of weight in kg, the quantity of class A drugs seized in 2012-13 was at its lowest level since 2007-08. While the quantity of class A drugs seized in 2012-13 in terms of liquids in litres was at its lowest level in the six year period covered by the 'SPPF Annual Report'. There has been a considerable decrease in the quantity of class A drugs being seized in tablet form. Between 2007-08 and 2012-13 there was a decrease of 84%, despite the upward trend seen in the last two years.

2.2.3 Class B drugs (Tables 6, 13a and 13b)

  • In each of the three years covered by this bulletin, over a tonne of cannabis resin has been seized by Scottish police forces. In 2012-13, 1,707.0 kg of cannabis resin was seized, an increase of 495.4 kg compared to 2011-12. The increase in the quantity of cannabis resin seized between 2011-12 and 2012-13 was largely as a result of the 407.8 kg increase in the quantity of cannabis resin seized by Lothian and Borders Police.
  • The quantity of herbal cannabis seized decreased by 5.8 kg from 620.8 kg in 2011-12 to 615.0 kg in 2012-13. However, although there was a small decrease at a Scotland level, this masks larger variations at police force level. Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary recorded an increase of 42.8 kg in the quantity of herbal cannabis seized, while Strathclyde Police recorded a decrease of 71.5 kg.
  • There were 41,411 cannabis plants seized in 2012-13, an increase of 6,626 plants compared to the 34,785 plants seized in 2011-12. Of the cannabis plants seized in 2012-13, Strathclyde Police seized two thirds of them. Strathclyde Police recorded an increase of 8,881 cannabis plants seized between 2011-12 and 2012-13. Strathclyde Police along with Northern Constabulary and Tayside Police were the only forces to record increases in the numbers of cannabis plants seized in 2012-13 compared to 2011-12.
  • The quantity of amphetamines seized in 2012-13 decreased by 39.3 kg to 92.9 kg seized in 2011-12. The quantity of amphetamines seized in 2012-13 is now 168.2 kg less than in 2010-11. In 2012-13, Lothian and Borders Police seized the highest quantity of amphetamines. The quantity of amphetamines seized by Lothian and Borders Police increased by 35.6 kg from 3.0 kg in 2011-12 to 38.6 kg in 2012-13.
  • In both 2010-11 and 2011-12, Strathclyde Police seized the majority of the quantity of amphetamines seized by Scottish police forces. The quantity of amphetamines seized by Strathclyde Police decreased by 67.6 kg between 2011-12 and 2012-13 to 16.0 kg.
  • There was a decrease of 0.8 kg in the quantity of mephedrone seized between 2011-12 and 2012-13. Of the 9.1 kg of methedrone seized in 2012‑13, over two thirds of it was seized by Tayside Police. There were no seizures of barbiturates in either 2011-12 or 2012-13, with only 200 tablets being seized in the four seizures recorded in 2010-11.

2.2.4 Class C drugs (Tables 7, 14a and 14b)

  • With the exception of diazepam, in the three year period covered by this bulletin, the quantities of class C drugs seized are relatively small compared to the quantities of either class A or class B drugs seized.
  • In 2012-13, 532,100 tablets of diazepam tablets were seized by Scottish police forces. This is less than half the number of tablets seized in 2011-12 and is also less that the number seized in 2010-11 by 146,800 tablets. Seven of the eight forces recorded a decrease in the number of diazepam tablets seized. Central Scotland Police was the only force to record an increase in the number of diazepam tablets seized, 59,000 more tablets in 2012-13 compared to 2011-12. Strathclyde Police still seized the highest number of diazepam tablets in 2012-13 even though they seized 382,300 fewer tablets than in 2011-12.
  • In addition to the quantity of diazepam seized, 2,000 tablets of temazepam as well as 11,100 tablets of other benzodiazepines were seized by Scottish police forces in 2012-13. These three types of drugs are all from from the same family of drugs. As was the case in 2011-12, the vast majority of other benzodiazepine tablets were seized by Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary in 2012-13.
  • There was an increase of 4,800 in the number of anabolic steroid tablets seized in 2012-13 compared to 2011-12. Of the 10,800 tablets seized in 2012‑13, 9,300 were seized by Tayside Police. In 2011-12, Tayside Police only seized 100 tablets. Only three other police forces made seizures of anabolic steroids in 2012-13, namely Grampian Police, Northern Constabulary and Strathclyde Police. Please note that Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizure information on anabolic steroids. For further clarification, please see Note 3.3.6. In 2011-12, Grampian Police seized 5,300 of the 6,000 anabolic steroids tablets seized, whereas in 2012-13, Grampian Police seized only 200 tablets.
  • In the three year period covered by this bulletin, only limited quantities of ketamine have been seized by Scottish police forces. There were 0.3 kg seized in 2010-11, with only 0.1 kg being seized in both 2011-12 and 2012‑13. There were no seizures of GHB in 2012-13, with less than 0.1 litres having been seized in 2011-12 and 0.1 litres seized in 2010-11.

Table 1: The number1 and percentage of seizures of controlled drugs by class of drug, Scotland, 2010-11 to 2012-13

Number & Percentage
Drug Class 2010-112 2011-122 2012-132 % change 11-12
to 12-13
Class A3 6,074 5,825 5,313 -9
Class B4,5 17,821 20,618 22,185 8
Class C6,7 4,138 4,719 3,544 -25
Total1 26,693 29,734 28,968 -3
Percentage of Total Seizures
Class A 23 20 18
Class B 67 69 77
Class C 16 16 12

Notes:

1. Seizures involving more than one class of drug are counted as a single seizure in the total number of seizures but are counted separately against each individual drug class involved. For more information please see Note 3.3.1.
2. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.
3. Figures for class A drugs include tapentadol, which became a controlled drug on 28 March 2011.
4. Figures for class B drugs include mephedrone and other cathinone-based drugs, which became controlled drugs on 16 April 2010, though some were already controlled as class C drugs.
5. Figures for class B drugs include pipradrol-related compounds - including desoxypipradrol (2-DPMP), diphenylmethtlpyrrolidine and diphenylprolinol (D2PM), which became controlled drugs on 13 June 2012.
6. Figures for class C drugs include amineptine, which became a controlled drug on 28 March 2011.
7. Figures for class C drugs include phenazepam, which became a controlled drug on 13 June 2012.

Table 2: The number1 of seizures of class A drugs made by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2010-11 to 2012-13

Number & Percentage
Drug Type 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 % change 11-12
to 12-13
Cocaine 2,038 2,060 2,140 4
Crack 154 337 186 -45
Ecstasy-type Substances 269 441 553 25
Heroin 3,417 2,793 2,329 -17
LSD 5 7 4 n/r
Methadone 255 255 132 -48
Methylamphetamine2 1 4 3 n/r
Morphine2 21 38 30 -21
Other class A3 30 36 41 14
Total1 6,074 5,825 5,313 -9

Notes:

1. Seizures involving more than one class of drug are counted as a single seizure in the total number of seizures but are counted separately against each individual drug class involved. For more information please see Note 3.3.1.
2. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.
3. Figures for 'other class A' drugs include tapentadol, which became a controlled drug on 28 March 2011.

Table 3: The number1 of seizures of class B drugs made by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2010-11 to 2012-13

Number & Percentage
Drug Type 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 % change 11-12
to 12-13
Herbal Cannabis 6,605 9,643 12,934 34
Cannabis resin 9,930 9,864 8,462 -14
Cannabis plants 872 1,154 1,106 -4
Total Cannabis1 16,479 19,433 21,169 9
Amphetamines 1,125 996 692 -31
Barbiturates2 4 - - -
Mephedrone2 201 195 194 -1
Other class B3,4 260 141 215 52
Total1 17,821 20,618 22,185 8

Notes:

1. Seizures involving more than one class of drug are counted as a single seizure in the total number of seizures but are counted separately against each individual drug class involved. For more information please see Note 3.3.1.
2. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.
3. Figures for 'other class B' drugs include mephedrone and other cathinone-based drugs, which became controlled drugs on 16 April 2010, though some were already controlled as class C drugs.
4. Figures for 'other class B' drugs include pipradrol-related compounds - including desoxypipradrol (2-DPMP), diphenylmethtlpyrrolidine and diphenylprolinol (D2PM), which became controlled drugs on 13 June 2012.

Table 4: The number1 of seizures of class C drugs made by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2010-11 to 2012-13

Number & Percentage
Drug Type 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 % change 11-12
to 12-13
Anabolic Steroids2 20 20 21 5
Diazepam 3,535 4,294 3,277 -24
GHB2 1 1 - -
Ketamine2 30 34 19 -44
Other Benzodiazepines2 33 39 88 126
Temazepam 53 62 60 -3
Other class C3,4 540 350 125 -64
Total1 4,138 4,719 3,544 -25

Notes:

1. Seizures involving more than one class of drug are counted as a single seizure in the total number of seizures but are counted separately against each individual drug class involved. For more information please see Note 3.3.1.
2. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.
3. Figures for 'other class C' drugs include amineptine, which became a controlled drug on 28 March 2011.
4. Figures for 'other class C' drugs include phenazepam, which became a controlled drug on 13 June 2012.

Table 5: The quantity of class A drugs seized1,2 by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2010-11 to 2012-13

Quantity
Drug Type Units3 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Cocaine kg 148.2 100.5 281.3
Crack kg 7.2 6.3 5.5
Ecstasy-type Substances tablets (000s) 10.1 158.1 32.9
Heroin kg 95.6 120.6 80.4
LSD tablets (000s) 0.1 0.1 0.2
Methadone litres 36.6 46.3 20.5
Methylamphetamine4 kg 0.0 0.0 0.0
Morphine4 litres 0.8 0.7 0.4

Notes:

1. Where the quantity of a seizure is recorded as 'trace' it is not included in these figures.
2. Drugs can be seized in a variety of forms or preparation types. In this table, quantities of drugs have been converted to weights (kg), liquids (litres) or tablets (000s). To present all seized quantities within a given drug type in terms of one comparable unit, conversion factors are applied to estimate the overall quantity for that drug.
3. Tablets include doses, dots and squares.
4. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.

Table 6: The quantity of class B drugs seized1,2 by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2010-11 to 2012-13

Quantity
Drug Type Units3 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Herbal Cannabis kg 867.9 620.8 615.0
Cannabis resin kg 1,069.3 1,211.6 1,707.0
Cannabis plants plants 34,853 34,785 41,411
Amphetamines kg 261.1 132.2 92.9
Barbiturates4 tablets (000s) 0.2 - -
Mephedrone4 kg 5.8 9.9 9.1

Notes:

1. Where the quantity of a seizure is recorded as 'trace' it is not included in these figures.
2. Drugs can be seized in a variety of forms or preparation types. In this table, quantities of drugs have been converted to weights (kg), liquids (litres) or tablets (000s). To present all seized quantities within a given drug type in terms of one comparable unit, conversion factors are applied to estimate the overall quantity for that drug.
3. Tablets include doses, dots and squares.
4. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.

Table 7: The quantity of class C drugs seized1,2 by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2010-11 to 2012-13

Quantity
Drug Type Units3 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Anabolic Steroids4 tablets (000s) 48.1 6.0 10.8
Diazepam tablets (000s) 678.9 1,074.3 532.1
GHB4 litres 0.1 0.0 -
Ketamine4 kg 0.3 0.1 0.1
Other Benzodiazepines4 tablets (000s) 1.0 7.3 11.1
Temazepam tablets (000s) 0.8 1.7 2.0

Notes:

1. Where the quantity of a seizure is recorded as 'trace' it is not included in these figures.
2. Drugs can be seized in a variety of forms or preparation types. In this table, quantities of drugs have been converted to weights (kg), liquids (litres) or tablets (000s). To present all seized quantities within a given drug type in terms of one comparable unit, conversion factors are applied to estimate the overall quantity for that drug.
3. Tablets include doses, dots and squares.
4. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.

Table 8: The number1 of seizures of controlled drugs by police force area, 2010-11 to 2012-13

Number & Percentage
Police Force Area 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 % change 11-12
to 12-13
Central 1,144 980 1,243 27
Dumfries & Galloway 715 859 869 1
Fife 1,186 1,293 1,258 -3
Grampian 1,853 2,595 2,186 -16
Lothian & Borders2 4,243 3,966 2,894 -27
Northern 1,872 2,462 2,362 -4
Strathclyde 13,551 15,236 16,113 6
Tayside 2,129 2,343 2,043 -13
Scotland 26,693 29,734 28,968 -3

Notes:

1. Seizures involving more than one class of drug are counted as a single seizure in the total number of seizures but are counted separately against each individual drug class involved. For more information please see Note 3.3.1.
2. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.

Table 9a: The number1 of seizures of class A drugs made by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2011-12

Number
Drug Type Central Dumfries & Galloway Fife Grampian Lothian & Borders2 Northern Strathclyde Tayside Scotland
Cocaine 66 50 50 104 243 172 1,211 164 2,060
Crack - 3 - 224 8 5 83 14 337
Ecstasy-type Substances 10 11 18 28 32 110 163 69 441
Heroin 54 79 117 256 394 116 1,484 293 2,793
LSD - - 1 2 - 1 - 3 7
Methadone 10 10 14 32 49 17 108 15 255
Methylamphetamine - - - 1 NA 3 - - 4
Morphine 1 1 1 2 NA 1 21 11 38
Other class A3 - 1 1 10 - 7 15 2 36
Total1 141 155 202 659 726 432 2,939 571 5,825

Notes:

1. Seizures involving more than one class of drug are counted as a single seizure in the total number of seizures but are counted separately against each individual drug class involved. For more information please see Note 3.3.1.
2. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.
3. Figures for 'other class A' drugs include tapentadol, which became a controlled drug on 28 March 2011.

Table 9b: The number1 of seizures of class A drugs made by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2012-13

Number
Drug Type Central Dumfries & Galloway Fife Grampian Lothian & Borders2 Northern Strathclyde Tayside Scotland
Cocaine 65 49 60 208 203 152 1,237 166 2,140
Crack - - - 124 8 - 54 - 186
Ecstasy-type Substances 14 29 18 20 32 110 259 71 553
Heroin 90 81 92 222 446 161 1,020 217 2,329
LSD 1 - 3 - - - - - 4
Methadone 8 4 16 9 18 8 51 18 132
Methylamphetamine - - - 1 NA 1 - 1 3
Morphine - 1 1 2 NA 4 9 13 30
Other class A3 - 3 - 3 - 20 13 2 41
Total1 178 167 190 589 707 456 2,538 488 5,313

Notes:

1. Seizures involving more than one class of drug are counted as a single seizure in the total number of seizures but are counted separately against each individual drug class involved. For more information please see Note 3.3.1.
2. Figures for 'other class A' drugs include tapentadol, which became a controlled drug on 28 March 2011.
3. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.

Table 10a: The number1 of seizures of class B drugs made by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2011-12

Number
Drug Type Central Dumfries & Galloway Fife Grampian Lothian & Borders2 Northern Strathclyde Tayside Scotland
Herbal Cannabis 216 343 290 803 1,439 598 5,480 474 9,643
Cannabis resin 389 210 445 608 864 788 5,918 642 9,864
Cannabis plants 44 14 117 67 238 42 566 66 1,154
Total Cannabis1 649 567 852 1,478 2,541 1,428 10,736 1,182 19,433
Amphetamines 39 20 80 66 113 160 432 86 996
Barbiturates - - - - NA - - - -
Mephedrone 9 3 2 30 NA 53 23 75 195
Other class B3 1 2 11 17 33 22 30 25 141
Total1 698 592 945 1,591 2,687 1,663 11,074 1,368 20,618

Notes:

1. Seizures involving more than one class of drug are counted as a single seizure in the total number of seizures but are counted separately against each individual drug class involved. For more information please see Note 3.3.1.
2. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.
3. Figures for 'other class B drugs' include mephedrone and other cathinone-based drugs, which became controlled drugs on 16 April 2010, though some were already controlled as class C drugs.

Table 10b: The number1 of seizures of class B drugs made by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2012-13

Number
Drug Type Central Dumfries & Galloway Fife Grampian Lothian & Borders2 Northern Strathclyde Tayside Scotland
Herbal Cannabis 466 393 393 825 1,703 678 7,939 537 12,934
Cannabis resin 329 141 317 485 618 626 5,436 510 8,462
Cannabis plants 49 13 143 51 243 34 509 64 1,106
Total Cannabis1 844 547 853 1,361 2,564 1,338 12,551 1,111 21,169
Amphetamines 44 19 62 19 99 183 199 67 692
Barbiturates - - - - NA - - - -
Mephedrone 13 3 12 7 NA 12 25 122 194
Other class B3,4 - 14 13 4 37 102 36 9 215
Total1 901 583 940 1,391 2,700 1,635 12,726 1,309 22,185

Notes:

1. Seizures involving more than one class of drug are counted as a single seizure in the total number of seizures but are counted separately against each individual drug class involved. For more information please see Note 3.3.1.
2. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.
3. Figures for 'other class B' drugs include mephedrone and other cathinone-based drugs, which became controlled drugs on 16 April 2010, though some were already controlled as class C drugs.
4. Figures for 'other class B' drugs include pipradrol-related compounds - including desoxypipradrol (2-DPMP), diphenylmethtlpyrrolidine and diphenylprolinol (D2PM), which became controlled drugs on 13 June 2012.

Table 11a: The number1 of seizures of class C drugs made by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2011-12

Number
Drug Type Central Dumfries & Galloway Fife Grampian Lothian & Borders2 Northern Strathclyde Tayside Scotland
Anabolic Steroids - - - 7 NA - 7 6 20
Diazepam 133 110 140 304 534 267 2,494 312 4,294
GHB 1 - - - NA - - - 1
Ketamine 1 - 1 10 NA 13 7 2 34
Other Benzodiazepines - 8 3 8 NA - - 20 39
Temazepam - - 2 10 19 8 23 - 62
Other class C3 6 8 - 29 - 79 164 64 350
Total1 141 126 146 353 553 367 2,629 404 4,719

Notes:

1. Seizures involving more than one class of drug are counted as a single seizure in the total number of seizures but are counted separately against each individual drug class involved. For more information please see Note 3.3.1.
2. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.
3. Figures for 'other class C' drugs include amineptine, which became a controlled drug on 28 March 2011.

Table 11b: The number1 of seizures of class C drugs made by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2012-13

Number
Drug Type Central Dumfries & Galloway Fife Grampian Lothian & Borders2 Northern Strathclyde Tayside Scotland
Anabolic Steroids - - - 4 NA 9 5 3 21
Diazepam 157 95 127 188 475 153 1,848 234 3,277
GHB - - - - NA - - - -
Ketamine - 1 - - NA 6 10 2 19
Other Benzodiazepines 5 7 1 8 NA 65 - 2 88
Temazepam 2 3 - - 12 3 37 3 60
Other class C3,4 - 13 - 6 - 35 69 2 125
Total1 164 119 128 206 487 271 1,923 246 3,544

Notes:

1. Seizures involving more than one class of drug are counted as a single seizure in the total number of seizures but are counted separately against each individual drug class involved. For more information please see Note 3.3.1.
2. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.
3. Figures for 'other class C' drugs include amineptine, which became a controlled drug on 28 March 2011.
4. Figures for 'other class C' drugs include phenazepam, which became a controlled drug on 13 June 2012.

Table 12a: The quantity of class A drugs seized1,2 by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2011-12

Quantity
Drug Type Units3 Central Dumfries & Galloway Fife Grampian Lothian & Borders4 Northern Strathclyde Tayside Scotland
Cocaine kg 1.3 1.6 2.3 4.1 8.4 4.5 76.0 2.4 100.5
Crack kg - 0.4 - 3.8 1.7 0.0 0.5 0.0 6.3
Ecstasy-type Substances tablets (000s) 0.3 0.7 1.1 0.3 0.2 1.0 150.1 4.5 158.1
Heroin kg 1.1 1.4 15.6 10.1 16.5 1.1 68.3 6.5 120.6
LSD tablets (000s) - - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 - 0.0 0.1
Methadone litres 1.6 1.8 7.2 4.4 15.0 1.9 13.4 1.0 46.3
Methylamphetamine kg - - - 0.0 NA 0.0 - - 0.0
Morphine litres 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 NA 0.0 0.6 0.1 0.7

Notes:

1. Where the quantity of a seizure is recorded as 'trace' it is not included in these figures.
2. Drugs can be seized in a variety of forms or preparation types. In this table, quantities of drugs have been converted to weights (kg), liquids (litres) or tablets (000s). To present all seized quantities within a given drug type in terms of one comparable unit, conversion factors are applied to estimate the overall quantity for that drug.
3. Tablets include doses, dots and squares.
4. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.

Table 12b: The quantity of class A drugs seized1,2 by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2012-13

Quantity
Drug Type Units3 Central Dumfries & Galloway Fife Grampian Lothian & Borders4 Northern Strathclyde Tayside Scotland
Cocaine kg 2.6 0.6 5.7 4.5 9.4 3.1 53.5 201.9 281.3
Crack kg - - - 4.9 0.3 - 0.3 - 5.5
Ecstasy-type Substances tablets (000s) 0.3 20.3 2.6 1.8 0.5 2.4 4.3 0.6 32.9
Heroin kg 0.8 0.9 1.7 8.0 5.0 2.5 50.1 11.4 80.4
LSD tablets (000s) 0.0 - 0.2 - - - - - 0.2
Methadone litres 1.2 0.8 1.8 0.9 7.1 0.4 6.3 2.1 20.5
Methylamphetamine kg - - - 0.0 NA 0.0 - 0.0 0.0
Morphine litres - 0.0 0.1 0.0 NA 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.4

Notes:

1. Where the quantity of a seizure is recorded as 'trace' it is not included in these figures.
2. Drugs can be seized in a variety of forms or preparation types. In this table, quantities of drugs have been converted to weights (kg), liquids (litres) or tablets (000s). To present all seized quantities within a given drug type in terms of one comparable unit, conversion factors are applied to estimate the overall quantity for that drug.
3. Tablets include doses, dots and squares.
4. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.

Table 13a: The quantity of class B drugs seized1,2 by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2011-12

Quantity
Drug Type Units3 Central Dumfries & Galloway Fife Grampian Lothian & Borders4 Northern Strathclyde Tayside Scotland
Herbal Cannabis kg 2.1 188.9 14.4 29.8 36.0 6.4 332.4 10.8 620.8
Cannabis resin kg 3.0 7.0 212.8 14.9 163.0 48.4 705.5 57.1 1,211.6
Cannabis plants plants 1,460 458 3,784 1,044 8,529 84 18,758 668 34,785
Amphetamines kg 4.8 0.9 16.0 2.3 3.0 17.8 83.6 3.8 132.2
Barbiturates tablets (000s) - - - - NA - - - -
Mephedrone kg 0.0 0.8 0.1 0.2 NA 0.2 2.7 5.8 9.9

Notes:

1. Where the quantity of a seizure is recorded as 'trace' it is not included in these figures.
2. Drugs can be seized in a variety of forms or preparation types. In this table, quantities of drugs have been converted to weights (kg), liquids (litres) or tablets (000s). To present all seized quantities within a given drug type in terms of one comparable unit, conversion factors are applied to estimate the overall quantity for that drug.
3. Tablets include doses, dots and squares.
4. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.

Table 13b: The quantity of class B drugs seized1,2 by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2012-13

Quantity
Drug Type Units3 Central Dumfries & Galloway Fife Grampian Lothian & Borders4 Northern Strathclyde Tayside Scotland
Herbal Cannabis kg 11.9 231.7 19.3 28.7 45.5 9.6 260.9 7.4 615.0
Cannabis resin kg 4.9 103.9 173.6 18.8 570.8 44.8 782.3 7.9 1,707.0
Cannabis plants plants 890 346 2,881 672 7,163 186 27,639 1,634 41,411
Amphetamines kg 3.5 0.6 9.3 3.7 38.6 6.2 16.0 14.9 92.9
Barbiturates tablets (000s) - - - - NA - - - -
Mephedrone kg 0.0 0.0 2.1 0.6 NA 0.1 0.1 6.2 9.1

Notes:

1. Where the quantity of a seizure is recorded as 'trace' it is not included in these figures.
2. Drugs can be seized in a variety of forms or preparation types. In this table, quantities of drugs have been converted to weights (kg), liquids (litres) or tablets (000s). To present all seized quantities within a given drug type in terms of one comparable unit, conversion factors are applied to estimate the overall quantity for that drug.
3. Tablets include doses, dots and squares.
4. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.

Table 14a: The quantity of class C drugs seized1,2 by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2011-12

Quantity
Drug Type Units3 Central Dumfries & Galloway Fife Grampian Lothian & Borders4 Northern Strathclyde Tayside Scotland
Anabolic Steroids tablets (000s) - - - 5.3 NA - 0.6 0.1 6.0
Diazepam tablets (000s) 23.5 36.5 82.7 42.3 122.1 64.2 638.0 65.0 1,074.3
GHB litres 0.0 - - - NA - - - 0.0
Ketamine kg 0.0 - 0.0 0.1 NA 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
Other Benzodiazepines tablets (000s) - 5.9 0.3 1.1 NA - - 0.2 7.3
Temazepam tablets (000s) - - 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.9 - 1.7

Notes:

1. Where the quantity of a seizure is recorded as 'trace' it is not included in these figures.
2. Drugs can be seized in a variety of forms or preparation types. In this table, quantities of drugs have been converted to weights (kg), liquids (litres) or tablets (000s). To present all seized quantities within a given drug type in terms of one comparable unit, conversion factors are applied to estimate the overall quantity for that drug.
3. Tablets include doses, dots and squares.
4. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.

Table 14b: The quantity of class C drugs seized1,2 by police forces in Scotland by drug type, 2012-13

Quantity
Drug Type Units3 Central Dumfries & Galloway Fife Grampian Lothian & Borders4 Northern Strathclyde Tayside Scotland
Anabolic Steroids tablets (000s) - - - 0.2 NA 0.6 0.7 9.3 10.8
Diazepam tablets (000s) 82.5 17.5 10.7 13.4 76.1 18.8 255.6 57.5 532.1
GHB litres - - - - NA - - - -
Ketamine kg - 0.0 - - NA 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
Other Benzodiazepines tablets (000s) 0.1 7.8 0.0 0.3 NA 2.6 - 0.3 11.1
Temazepam tablets (000s) 0.2 1.0 - - 0.1 0.0 0.5 0.1 2.0

Notes:

1. Where the quantity of a seizure is recorded as 'trace' it is not included in these figures.
2. Drugs can be seized in a variety of forms or preparation types. In this table, quantities of drugs have been converted to weights (kg), liquids (litres) or tablets (000s). To present all seized quantities within a given drug type in terms of one comparable unit, conversion factors are applied to estimate the overall quantity for that drug.
3. Tablets include doses, dots and squares.
4. Lothian and Borders Police are unable to provide seizures figures for some drug types. For more information please see Note 3.3.6.

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