SIR – It is no surprise to me that cocaine use is increasing as it becomes purer and cheaper – a consequence of greater availability.
I was a senior manager in what was then called HM Customs & Excise and also a director of the UK Immigration Service (Ports). With the political decision to amalgamate frontline Customs and Immigration staff, it was obvious to me that when there was pressure from queues at Immigration, resources would be switched away from Customs checks.
After all, nobody every complained about not having their goods searched, whereas complaints about delays in the immigration hall are frequent. The consequence of fewer Customs checks is that more drugs and other prohibited goods...