DRUG seizures in the North West have more than tripled in 10 years - with one in four being made by Lancashire police.

Home Office statistics today revealed that in 1998 there were 15,272 in the region, of which 4,039 were in the Lancashire force area, compared with the 1988 total of 4,147 in the region with 694 in the county.

The new figures show that number of seizures went up by eight per cent to 149,900 in the UK compared to a 14 per cent rise between 1996 and 1997.

In Lancashire there were 83 seizures of 0.8kg of cocaine and its cheaper derivative crack. The force also impounded 3.6kg of heroin in 527 raids.

There were 10 seizures of LSD amounting to 1,061 doses, 93 of ecstasy and related "dance drugs" amounting to 3,810 doses, and 27 or heroin substitute methadone amounting to 2.3kg.

Another seven seizures of hard drugs brought the total number of successful Class A drug discoveries to 725.

There were some 3,388 seizures of Class B soft drugs of which 2,957 involved 278kg of herbal and resin cannabis while 1,349 cannabis plants were impounded. There were 626 seizures of amphetamines, or speed, in Lancashire in 1998 involving 26.4kg of the pills while there were 22 seizures of temazepam and one of anabolic steroids.

Nationally, 76 per cent of all seizures involved cannabis with a seven per cent increase in the number of times the drug was impounded.

A 19 per cent increase in heroin seizures actually saw a 40 per cent fall in the amount impounded from 1997's record figure.

Cocaine and crack seizures rose by 36 per cent in numbers and 25 per cent in quantity.

The Home Office statistics also showed the number of offenders cautioned fell slightly to 47 per cent while 23 per cent were fined and eight per cent went sent immediately to prison - a four per cent rise on 1997.

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