Fewer drugs netted

The value of drugs seizures has plummeted by $3.27 million in the first six months to the year compared to the same period in 2012.

Customs and police netted $1.86 million worth of drugs between January and June — down from $5.13 million for the same six months last year.

And the assets confiscated under proceeds of crime legislation have also fallen by more than half – down from $520,000 to $232,000, a drop of $288,000.

Police Comissioner Michael DeSilva said the drop appeared to be linked to a decline in stop and search operations by police. He said:  “Drug enforcement activity has declined over the last four quarters from an average of 175 offences to 75 offences per quarter. This decline appears to coincide with a decline in stop and searches over the same four quarter period from about 2,300 a quarter to just over 1,100 a quarter, or about 52 per cent fewer searches.”

There were 138 drug seizures for the year so far, with 89 by police on the streets, 39 by Customs officer at ports of entry and 11 overseas.

National Security Minister Michael Dunkley said: “The Commissioner is in a better position to talk about stop and searches – he will use them as they deem necessary. As they appear to be making headway on gangs and violence, they can ease back.”

On drug seizures, Mr Dunkley added: “All you need is one or two significant busts and seizures go through the roof. Over time, we will see things pick up – it’s nothing to do with resources being targeted elsewhere.”

Overall, the second quarter of the year showed the lowest crime rate in 13 years, while it is the fourth quarter in a row where total crimes logged totalled less than 1,000. And a total of nine guns have been taken off the streets by police or handed in by members of the public. One has been linked to seven different gun crimes, while another has been linked to two separate offences.

There was a total of 415 fewer offences recorded compared to the same six-month period last year – a drop of nearly one fifth.

There were a total of three murders – one a double shooting murder in January which is believed to be gang related and a June stabbing.

There was only one gun incident, which was non-fatal, in the second quarter of the year, which represents the lowest rate of gang violence for four years. In addition, robbery offences dropped from 34 to 19 – a fall of 44 per cent – and the number of burglaries fell from 520 to 309, a 40 per cent reduction.