Brits held on drug offences

Almost half of all British nationals in jail abroad are being held on drugs offences, according to figures released today by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The data reveals that of the 2,582 British nationals detained abroad at the end of September 2009, 1,057 were related to drug charges.

Chris Bryant, Foreign and Commonwealth Minister, warned that British nationals should take extra care not to get involved with drugs overseas. “Britons should know the risks of taking drugs abroad – and they should also be extremely wary of being sucked into the drugs trade,” he said.

In South America 99 per cent of the British nationals detained by local authorities were held for drug crimes, with Brazil and Peru showing the highest figures.

Half of all British nationals in detention in Asia were for drug charges, with the highest figures in Thailand and Japan.

Unrealistic

Spain was the highest detainer of British nationals for drugs offences with 207, followed by USA with 141 and Thailand at 79.

Figures from ICM research, which surveyed over 2,000 British nationals, revealed that a fifth of British nationals think that a British embassy or high commission can get them out of prison if required. More than two thirds believed they could provide legal advice.

The research shows that British nationals often have unrealistic expectations of what the FCO can do for them if they are arrested overseas.

“The message is clear - we can't get people out of jail in other countries, so if you don't want to waste your life away in a tough foreign jail, be sensible and keep clean," said Chris Bryant.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises travellers to check the FCO travel advice section of their website for information on the laws and customs of any country before you travel.