NCJ Number
107988
Journal
Solicitors' Journal Volume: 130 Dated: (October 1986) Pages: 686-689
Date Published
1986
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This paper examines provisions of Great Britain's Drug Trafficking Offenses Act 1986 which was designed to strike effectively at the assets of traffickers by tracing, restraint, freezing, and confiscation to eliminate profit in trafficking.
Abstract
Under the new law, a circuit judge may make an order requiring a person to produce material in his or her possession when reasonable grounds exist for suspecting that a specified person is involved in drug trafficking and the material would benefit the investigation. The paper discusses situations when this order would be inappropriate and its application to financial institutions. Also examined are restraining orders to prohibit persons from dealing with any property related to a drug trafficking investigation, procedures for obtaining a confiscation order, and enforcement of such orders. The paper considers the act's provisions governing the position of an innocent third party such as wife or friend who was given a house or a gift. The act allows authorities to delay a drug offense arrestee's right to have a relative or friend notified for up to 36 hours. The paper explains provisions relating to the sale of drug kits, persons who assist or benefit from drug trafficking, sentencing, and reciprocal enforcement arrangements between England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and the European community. 9 references.