Britain's heroin haul is biggest in Europe

Britain has the largest heroin seizure rate in Europe and the third highest number of heroin addicts, according to figures released today.

It also has Europe's highest level of amphetamine abuse, the third highest level of ecstasy abuse after Ireland and the Czech Republic and rising levels of cocaine abuse, the UN International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) warns.

Today's report says last year's expansion of the European Union from 15 to 25 states may have made life easier for drug traffickers.

"Several member states in the EU are ... in the process of reorganising their customs services and significantly reducing their staff," it said.

INCB president Professor Hamid Ghodse repeated concerns expressed in last year's report that the reclassification of cannabis from class B to class C may have sent the wrong message to some users.

HBOS profits soar to £4.7bn