Scotland Act 1998 Explanatory Notes

Details of Provisions

Legislative competence is reserved in relation to the subject-matter of the following enactments:

(a)

the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which makes provision with respect to dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs and related matters.  In particular, it makes provision in relation to criminal offences in respect of the cultivation, possession, production, supply, import and export of “controlled drugs” (those controlled by the Act), the authorisation of certain activities in relation to such drugs, and confers certain special powers on the police in relation to such drugs.  It also provides for the establishment of an Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs;

(b)

Sections 12 to 14 of the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990, which make it an offence to manufacture or supply certain substances knowing or suspecting that the substance is to be used in or for the unlawful production of a controlled drug; enable the Secretary of State to make regulations about Scheduled substances; and make it an offence to conceal, disguise, transfer, convert or remove from the jurisdiction the proceeds of drug trafficking for the purpose of avoiding, or assisting someone to avoid, prosecution for a drug trafficking offence or the making or enforcement of a confiscation order;

(c)

Part V of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, which confer powers of search and investigation and create offences in respect of drug trafficking, in particular making it an offence for a person to acquire, use or possess property knowing that it represents the proceeds of drug trafficking; and

(d)

the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995, so far as relating to drug trafficking.  This Act makes general provision for the forfeiture of things used in the commission of crime and special provision for the confiscation of the proceeds of crime.

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