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n1 [soylentnews.org] writes:

Margaret Thatcher considered solving the 1980s crack cocaine problem by using plant-destroying pests. The former prime minister seemed keen on the idea suggested by Lord Rothschild in July 1989 after the drug gained popularity overseas, with the fear it would come to the UK.

He advocated using ‘covert’ tactics and aerial sprays to introduce a bug that would attack the source of cocaine, Cabinet Office papers released by the National Archives at Kew, west London, showed. ‘Supposing it is possible that such a pest exists or that it is possible to ‘make’ one, the question arises as to how to introduce it into the relevant parts of the various countries involved,’ he wrote in a letter addressed to Mrs Thatcher.

‘One might think of aerial sprays, with or without the connivance of the Government concerned; and various other methods of introduction, covert as well as overt.’

Mrs Thatcher replied: ‘Thank you for your most intriguing idea for tackling the cocaine and crack problem set out in your letter of 26 July: it is characteristically brilliant. ‘I shall look into this and will come back to you when I have more information about whether it is possible.’

Source: Metro [metro.co.uk]

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