The Leader of the Opposition, Fabian Picardo, has said that the
GSLP/Liberals, if they form Government after the next General Election, will
commit many more substantial resources than is the case today to the fight
against the importation of drugs into our community.

The trafficking of drugs and the luring of young people into their consumption
is one of the root causes of the problems affecting the fabric of our society.
Many (but not all) of the social problems that manifest themselves in our
community originate with drug consumption. Many of the instances of
criminality before our Courts, even those not related directly to drug trafficking
or drug possession, originate from the addiction to drugs.

In the circumstances a GSLP/Liberal Government will be committed to
ensuring that very high profile law enforcement presence is felt at all entry
points to Gibraltar to ensure that there is an appropriate deterrent. This is
missing at the moment and hence does not deter those who might attempt to
traffic drugs into Gibraltar.

The Leader of the Opposition, Fabian Picardo, said: “As Chief Minister I will
ensure that drug traffickers understand that in Gibraltar there is zero tolerance
of them plying their evil trade. Today there are not enough high profile law
enforcement resources dedicated to this. Gibraltar must be seen by drug
traffickers to be impenetrable and we must make it economically unviable for
them to apply their trade within our community. Those who profits from drugs
will have those same profits seized by the courts. Those found in possession
of drugs in larger amounts than for their personal use with be treated as
traffickers and should feel the full weight of the law.

“In consultation with Officers in the ranks of all law enforcement agencies we
can see the frustration at the lack of resources made available to them to
perform their important obligations. The amount expended on Customs and
the Police may have increased in budget terms but the resources being made
available to deter those who wish to import illegal substances into our
community are not high profile enough.

“We will ensure that this changes dramatically. We need to deter the activities
of drug traffickers. We must not shy away from ensuring that we do everything
possible to protect our young people and our community generally from this
pervasive, pernicious evil. For every pound spent as a deterrent we will save
pounds on the current cost to our society of living with this evil cancer.

“We are also committed that the resources should also be available for
rehabilitation of those who have fallen into the trap of drug addiction.
Governments should not deny that drugs are a problem in every community,
and we will not be found wanting in providing resources to enhance the
rehabilitation services available in our community to deal with this pernicious
problem.”