WRITTEN QUESTION E-0762/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 March 2002)

Subject: The Internet and mobile telephones, interfaces for drug trafficking

According to the report by the UN International Commission for Drug Control for 2001, in 2000 Interpol uncovered more than 1 000 websites on the Internet offering drugs for sale. Furthermore, according to the UK authorities, hundreds of websites have been discovered selling drugs ranging from cannabis to heroin and cocaine in the UK, while instructions for making drugs are freely available on the Internet from chemical laboratories in the USA. The UN report describes the Internet and mobile telephones as the basic interfaces for drug trafficking. On the Internet in particular, there are special private chat rooms where drug dealers make contact and organise the sale of drugs to addicts.

Is the Commission aware of this situation? What measures will it take to put an end to the activities of drug traffickers over the Internet? Does Europol have any details of the activities of such traffickers in Greece?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(27 May 2002)

The Commission is aware of the findings contained in the annual report on 2001 of the International Narcotics Control Board, and in particular the challenges that the misuse of new technologies are putting to the fight against drugs.

The Commission recalls that the current framework for Union action in the field of drugs is provided by the Union Drugs Strategy 2000-2004(1) and the Union Action Plan on Drugs 2000-2004(2).

The Union Action Plan states in point 4.1.1.2 that the Council and the Commission, with the assistance of Europol, prepare EU guidelines for combating illicit drugs activities via new technologies and in particular the internet.

The Commission proposal for a Council Framework Decision on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of illicit drug trafficking(3) targets illicit drug trafficking in general and thus also embraces illicit drug trafficking via information and communication technologies, in particular the Internet.

The specific issue of drugs and the internet has been considered in the appropriate working structures of the Council, and this is continuing. And the broader issue is addressed by the multi-annual Community action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks adopted by the Parliament and the Council(4). Moreover the Commission has also addressed this issue in its communication on Creating a safer information society by improving the security of information infrastructures and combating computer-related crime issued in January 2001(5).

As regards Europol, the Commission is not informed on whether Europol is in possession of specific information concerning the possible existence of these activities in Greece but it will pass on to Europol the concerns expressed by the Honorable Member.

(1) Council Document 12555/3/99 (http://ue.eu.int/newsroom/newmain.asp?lang=1).

(2) Council Document 9283/00 and 9283/00 COR1 (http://ue.eu.int/newsroom/newmain.asp?lang=1).

(3) COM(2001) 259 final.

(4) OJ L 33, 6.2.1999.

(5) COM(2000) 890.