Travel Campaign Says "Don't Get Caught With Drugs Abroad"!

TRAVEL CAMPAIGN SAYS "DON'T GET CAUGHT WITH DRUGS ABROAD"! Statistics released by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office reveal that 3,200 British Nationals are currently imprisoned abroad - equivalent to 60 full tour coaches. Of these, over a third are detained for drug offences. As part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) information campaign, Know Before You Go, travellers are being urged to check out the two new drug factsheets, on drug penalties abroad and measures to avoid getting duped, on the website: www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo. Richard Morris, deputy head of the Foreign Office's Consular Division, said: "It's very sad that so many British Nationals are imprisoned abroad, often in conditions very different to those they would experience in Britain. Our aim by focussing on drugs is to make travellers as fully informed as possible of the pitfalls and penalties which they can face if they get involved with drugs abroad, or try to bring them back home. The Know Before You Go website is there to help everyone stay on the right side of the law while they're abroad and we urge people to use it." There are concerns that a growing number of Britons, especially young people, are becoming involved in taking, carrying or dealing in drugs whilst on holiday. Sometimes people unwittingly end up being lured or coerced into smuggling drugs across borders, often at great risk to their health if they hide them inside their body. The Know Before You Go campaign is working with holiday companies such as Club 18 - 30, organisations such as Prisoners Abroad (www.prisonersabroad.org.uk) and gap year and independent travel specialists to highlight the penalties if holidaymakers break the law. The FCO country travel advice contains detailed information on drug laws and penalties along with new drugs factsheets and general information on travelling abroad - the web site information also directs travellers to other web sites such as the Department of Health (www.doh.gov.uk), which contains specific information on the health risks associated with drugs. There is also a link to Tourism Concern's web site (www.tourismconcern.org.uk) which provides detailed information on the environmental impact of the worldwide drugs trade and its economic and social effects on local communities. Preview of Factsheet - Getting into Drugs Abroad: If you are thinking about taking drugs whilst on holiday abroad or bringing some back with you, stop and think about the facts below - otherwise your holiday of a lifetime could end up lasting a lifetime in jail! Many countries outside the UK refuse to grant bail before trial and often detain people in solitary confinement You will still get a criminal record in the UK if caught with drugs abroad If you've been caught with drugs abroad, you're unlikely to ever be allowed to visit the country again If you get injured or ill as a result of drugs, your holiday insurance may be invalidated and your tour operator can refuse to fly you home Cyprus - has a zero tolerance policy towards drugs and possession will usually lead to a hefty fine or even life imprisonment Spain - penalties are severe and sentences for carrying can be up to 12 years Greece - possession of even small quantities of drugs can lead to lengthy and even life imprisonment Jamaica - drug offences result in mandatory prison sentences (conditions are harsh) and large fines. Possession of even small quantities can lead to imprisonment Venezuela - drug carriers face minimum 10-year prison sentences in harsh conditions Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Iran and Algeria can impose the death sentence for some drugs charges Remember, if you get caught with drugs abroad, the British Consul CANNOT get you out of jail, or get you better conditions than are provided for local or other nationals or give legal advice. For more advice on laws and penalties for drugs and what the Foreign and Commonwealth Office can and cannot do, plus travellers' checklists, visit: www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo -Ends- For preview of the checklist on how to avoid being duped into taking or dealing in drugs abroad, and further information contact: Julia Edwards, PR Manager 01235 433791. Out of office hours: 01235 760 162 Beth Chesney-Evans, Campaign Manager 01235 436669. Out of office hours: 01865 407 835 Note to Editors: The Know Before You Go campaign is run on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by AEA Technology Ltd. The campaign aims to raise public awareness and to encourage companies involved in the travel industry to join in partnership with the FCO to promote the key messages - take out travel insurance and check out the FCO travel web site before you go. For further information about the campaign and how companies can sign up to the Charter for the British Traveller Overseas please call 01235 436744 or e-mail knowbeforeyougo@aeat.co.uk. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/03/04/20020304BIT00740/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/03/04/20020304BIT00740/wkr0002.pdf