Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 106: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if he will report on Garda Operation Kelso; the amount of drugs seized to date; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of gardaí involved; if this operation is still ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6110/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that Operation 'Kelso' was undertaken by personnel from the Garda National Drugs Unit in Limerick City between August 2010 and February 2011. The operation targeted on-street drug dealing.

During the operation approximately 40 'street-deals' of drugs, principally heroin, were purchased. The operation resulted in an arrest operation in February 2011 during which 36 persons were arrested, with further arrests anticipated. The cases of persons arrested on foot of this operation for offences contrary to section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 and 1984 (possession of controlled drugs for unlawful sale or supply) are currently before the courts, awaiting law officer direction or remain under investigation at this time. Every effort is made by local Garda management in conjunction with the Garda National Drugs Unit to ensure that test-purchases under this initiative are conducted as part of routine, rostered, policing duties.

An Garda Síochána is committed to tackling the supply of drugs at all levels in keeping with the National Drugs Strategy. The Garda National Drugs Unit works together with local Garda Drugs Units to ensure a co-ordinated and effective approach to protecting our communities from the harm and pain caused by drug use.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 107: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform if he will report on Garda Operation Glint; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of gardaí involved to date; if the operation is still active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6111/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that Operation 'Glint' was brought into effect from 24 January 2011 under the direction and control of the Assistant Commissioner in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR). The principal aim of the operation is to disrupt the activities of those involved in ATM fraud, particularly persons and organised groups utilising various skimming technologies at ATM machines. The operation remains ongoing.

The D/Superintendent DMR South Central has overall regional responsibility for the management of this initiative. Support is provided by the District Detective Inspectors and Detective Branch personnel in each of the Garda Districts in the DMR, together with liaison provided by personnel at the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation. Detective Branch Personnel are particularly tasked with preventing/detecting this type of crime, while at the same time drawing the attention of all members of the public and users of ATM machines to the deployment of skimming equipment at ATMs city wide.

Every effort is being made by local Garda management to reduce this type of criminality through high visibility uniform patrols and plain-clothes surveillance and patrols which are performed as part of routine, rostered, policing duties. To date 11 persons have been arrested and charged under this operation with fraud related offences. All such persons are currently before the courts.