Written answers
Wednesday, 28 September 2005
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Drug Seizures
9:00 pm
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 921: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the percentage, increase or decrease in the amount of drugs seized by the Garda from 2000 to the end of 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24355/05]
Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Data provided by the Garda authorities in respect of seizures of the principal illicit drugs and the percentage increase or decrease in such seizures over the period 2000 to 2004, inclusive, is summarised in the table.
| Quantities of drugs seized 2000 to 2004. | ||||||
| Type of Drug | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004* | Overall increase/ (decrease) 2000 to 2004* |
| Heroin | 23.9kg | 29.5kg | 16.7kg | 27.046kg | 26.4kg | 10% |
| Cocaine | 18kg | 5.3kg | 31.7kg | 107.4kg | 167.3kg | 829% |
| Cannabis Resin | 379.8kg | 567kg | 3,333kg | 5,349kg | 3,226.45kg | 750% |
| Ecstasy (Tablets & Capsules) | 557,357 | 469,862 | 117,046 | 1,291,812 | 1,098,322 | 97% |
| Amphetamine | 149 tabs & 5.8kg | 17.9kg | 12,728 tabs & 16.4kg | 1,019 tabs & 67.7kg | 91 tabs & 92.4kg | (39%) tabs 1493% kgs |
| * 2004 figures are provisional. |
| Percentage increase/decrease in drugs seized each year 2000 to 2004. | ||||
| Type of Drug | 2000-2001 | 2001-2002 | 2002-2003 | 2003-2004* |
| Heroin | 23% | (43%) | 62% | (2%) |
| Cocaine | (71%) | 498% | 239% | 56% |
| Cannabis Resin | 49% | 488% | 60% | (40%) |
| Ecstasy | (16%) | (75%) | 1004% | (15%) |
| Amphetamine | 209% kgs | (8%) kgs | (92%) tabs 313% kgs | (91%) tabs 36% kgs |
| * 2004 figures are provisional. |
It is a key objective of the national drugs strategy to reduce access to all drugs, particularly those drugs that cause most harm, to young people especially in those areas where misuse is most prevalent. The strategy specifies a number of supply reduction targets for the Garda Síochána in terms of seizures and detections and the Garda have achieved considerable successes in respect of these targets to date.
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