House of Commons - Written Answers 1-4-98 (Hansard) Col 537

Drugs

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the proportion of (a) heroin and (b) cocaine seized in the last 12 months for which figures are available, with a degree of purity of (a) less than 20 per cent., (b) 20 to 30 per cent., (c) 30 to 40 per cent., (d) 40 to 50 per cent., (e) 50 to 60 per cent. and (f) 60 per cent. and above: and what quantity was seized in each band. [36480]

Mr. George Howarth: In 1997 where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for purity of police seizures of heroin and cocaine, the purities were as follows:

Heroin & Cocaine Purity Distributions 1997
Heroin purity	Percentage of cases	Cocaine purity	Percentage of cases
Less than 5 and 5-10%	2	Less than 5 and 5-10%	2
10-20%	12	10-20%	4
20-30%	21	20-30%	10
30-40%	23	30-40%	12
40-50%	23	40-50%	13
50-60%	15	50-60%	13
More than 60%	5	More than 60%	43
Police mean 35%	Customs mean 34%	Police mean 52%	Customs mean 70%

Note: Figures are rounded

Ecstasy - MDMA mean dosage 66mg, MDEA (or+MDMA) mean dosage 80mg

 

The quantity seized in each band is not available. The seemingly high percentage of cases involving purity of cocaine of more than 60 per cent. is probably skewed by the inclusion of some crack cases. The overall average purity for heroin was around 35 per cent. and for cocaine around 52 per cent.

Where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for purity of Customs seizures the average purity on importation in 1997 of heroin was around 34 per cent. and cocaine around 70 per cent. More detailed information on purity on importation is not available.

Source: Hansard 1-4-98 - Commons Written Answers col 537 (George Howarth - Home Office)