International Herald Tribune

Tuesday, February 4, 1997

(AP)

French-Dutch Pact on Drugs

THE HAGUE - France, the severest critic of the permissive Dutch policy, signed a customs agreement with the Netherlands on Monday that aims to prevent smuggling of narcotics.

Under the accord, Dutch and French customs officers will focus on a host of illegal goods, but intercepting drugs shipment will be main goal, said Peter Mulder, a spokesman for the Dutch customs authorities.

The two countries will intensify cooperation through regular exchanges of customs officers and intelligence. They will also swap techniques for scanning suspect shipment.