Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I commend An Garda Síochána for the seizure last night, as part of a planned operation, of what is estimated to be €4 million worth of heroin.

My Department's remit in this area, as part of the Government's overall national drugs strategy, while not exclusively, is primarily in the area of drug supply reduction and drug law enforcement remains a key feature of the Government's drug policy framework.

An Garda Síochána invokes a number of broad strategic responses in addressing the issue. These include identifying, targeting and dismantling national and international drug trafficking networks which supply and distribute illegal drugs within the State; conducting intelligence-driven operations focusing on all aspects of the illicit drugs trade, including commodity, logistics, distribution and financing; working with other national and international law enforcement agencies on joint actions designed to reduce the availability of drugs and the proceeds derived from the drugs trade; and working in partnership with statutory, community and voluntary groups to reduce both the supply and demand for drugs within society.

In implementing these strategies, the Garda national drugs unit will continue to co-ordinate large scale operations against drug dealing and trafficking with the unit personnel investigating cases themselves and assisting local investigation teams as appropriate. Additional assistance will continue to be made available from other specialised Garda support units, such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Criminal Assets Bureau.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that in addition to the considerable volumes of drugs continuing to be seized, significant impact has been made over the past 18 months by arresting and prosecuting a number of major players involved in drug trafficking through the importation, sale and distribution of drugs. A significant number of crime gangs involved in this type of criminal activity have been disrupted and dismantled.

Drug seizures this year to date include more than €20 million worth of heroin and €7.2 million worth of cocaine. I warmly commend An Garda Síochána in this regard. Of its nature this work has to be ongoing and relentless.

Paradoxically, while increases in the number of drug seizures lead to an increased crime rate as demonstrated, for example, in the most recent CSO crime statistics which show an increase year on year of 31% in detections of controlled drug offences, such seizures are in fact to be welcomed as evidence of increased enforcement.

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