Detection and prevention of illicit trade in drugs, alcohol and tobacco in Wales

Thursday 29th June 2023
With Public Health Network Cymru

The significant increase in deaths and hospitalisations associated with illicit drug and alcohol use, alongside the persistent risk posed by tobacco, is a public health crisis that requires cross-sector and multi-agency collaboration and coordination. Illegally traded drugs, alcohol and tobacco have a damaging impact on population health and well-being that exceeds the risk already posed by their legal forms, making the detection and prevention of illicit trade in these goods vital.

Brexit has changed which EU criminal databases the UK can access and created opportunities for different border and import controls and trading relationships. This has the potential to affect the supply of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco in Wales as well as how the UK can work with the EU and others to detect and prevent illicit trade of these goods.

This webinar summarised the international systems the UK and Wales participated in to tackle illicit alcohol, tobacco, and drugs before Brexit. The panel explored how these have changed post-Brexit and what potential impact that may have on health and well-being in Wales.

We hope this webinar will be a valuable resource for those involved in tackling illicit trade (e.g. town, city and county councils, law enforcement, data intelligence and customs officials), and of wider interest to public health professionals and officials working on public health policy as a demonstration of the many ways that Brexit has the potential to influence the health and well-being of the people of Wales.

Speakers:
Chair: Louisa Petchey, Senior Policy Specialist, Public Health Wales
Leah Silva, Senior Policy and International Evidence Development Officer, Public Health Wales
Chris Emmerson, Consultant in Public Health, Public Health Wales
Dr Paul Gilmour, Senior Lecturer in Economic Crime, University of Portsmouth