Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 156: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to data from the Revenue Commissioners' customs service suggesting that the approximate value of illegal drug seizures here in 2005 was €37 million; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that there were 1,223 such seizures; his views on these figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4438/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am aware of the provisional figure of €37 million from the Revenue Commissioners' customs service as the value of illegal drug seizures in 2005.

This is a significant increase on the figure of €12.4 million for 2004 and it illustrates the continued success of the customs service in disrupting the flow of illegal drugs into this State. The fact that there were 1,223 such seizures further emphasises the constant nature of this struggle against illicit drugs.

Supply reduction is one of the cornerstones of the national drugs strategy and the Revenue's customs service play a huge role in this respect. The customs service is achieving its targets for seizures as set out under the strategy and its ongoing achievement is also illustrated by the €160 million worth of illegal drugs it prevented from entering the country between 1999 and 2004.

The customs service is committed to maintaining this success and will shortly introduce its first mobile X-ray scanner aimed at detecting illegal drugs. I commend the Revenue Commissioners' customs service on its increasing rate of success in disrupting the flow of illicit drugs into the country.