Britain’s intelligence services are now involved in the ‘war on drugs’ to an unprecedented degree. This has led to tensions with the police and the National Criminal Intelligence Service, despite the partnership which the 1996 Security Service Act formalised. Behind these moves lies a shift in policing activity which lends itself to the spying ethos. In turn, such an ethos transforms ‘drugs’ into a matter of ‘national security’ and stifles meaningful debate.