Customs

AuthorityTreasury
Date received2020-06-15
OutcomeAll information sent
Outcome date2020-06-25
Case ID1330709

Summary

The request sought statistics on controlled drug interceptions by Customs at airports, boats, and post over five years, along with related arrest and prosecution figures. The response disclosed that airport and boat operations are handled by police, while providing specific interception data for postal services and overall arrest and prosecution counts.

Key Facts

  • Customs does not handle drug interceptions at airports or boats as these are joint operations progressed by the police.
  • Postal drug interception data is provided for the financial years 2015/16 through 2019/20.
  • A total of 4 arrests resulted from the interceptions mentioned, with 3 by Customs & Excise and 1 by the Police.
  • Only 2 of the interceptions resulted in prosecutions, both conducted by Customs & Excise.
  • The request was received on 15 June 2020 and the response was issued on 25 June 2020.

Data Disclosed

  • 27
  • 23
  • 30
  • 40
  • 37
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 15 June 2020
  • 25 June 2020
  • 1st April to 31st March
  • 15/16
  • 16/17
  • 17/18
  • 18/19
  • 19/20

Original Request

Could you advise, (i) how many times in the last 5 years Customs has intercepted controlled drugs at: (a) Airport (b) Boat (c) Post (ii) How many of these interceptions led to arrests? (ii) How many of these resulted in prosecutions?

Data Tables (4)

Operations at th e airpo rt have been undertaken jointly w ith the police and an
interception of controlled drugs have been progressed b y the police and not by Customs
& Excise
(i) (b) Boat – Operations at the p ort have been undertak en jointly with the polic e and any
interception of controlled drugs have been progressed b y the police and not by Customs
& Excise
(ii) How many of these in terceptions led to arrests? 4 (3 by Customs & Excise a nd one by
the Police.
(iii ) How many of these r esulted in p rosecutions? 2 (by C ustoms & Excise)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Seyrsnys Fysseree

The Treasury Government Office, Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 3PU

Telephone: (01624) 685605 Email: FOI.Treasury@gov.im

Government Website: www.gov.im

Our ref: 1330709 25 June 2020

Dear ###

I write further to your request which was received on 15 June 2020, which states:

"Could you advise, (i) how many times in the last 5 years Customs has intercepted controlled drugs at: (a) Airport (b) Boat (c) Post (ii) How many of these interceptions led to arrests? (ii) How many of these resulted in prosecutions?"

Response to your request (i) (a) - Operations at the airport have been undertaken jointly with the police and any interception of controlled drugs have been progressed by the police and not by Customs & Excise. (i) (b) Boat – Operations at the port have been undertaken jointly with the police and any interception of controlled drugs have been progressed by the police and not by Customs & Excise. (i) (c) Post – All information is for the financial year 1st April to 31st March 15/16 – 27 16/17 – 23 17/18 – 30 18/19 – 40 19/20 – 37 (ii) How many of these interceptions led to arrests? 4 (3 by Customs & Excise and one by the Police. (iii) How many of these resulted in prosecutions? 2 (by Customs & Excise)

Please quote the reference number 1330709 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely