Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the role played by the Garda Síochána in the seizure of more than 120 million cigarettes from a vessel in Greenore, County Louth; the value of the cigarettes seized; if charges have yet been pressed against any of those arrested at the time; if a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions; if he has satisfied himself that there was an appropriate level of cooperation between the Gardaí and the customs authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43072/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all agencies involved in Operation Samhna, which led to the seizure of an estimated 120 million cigarettes at Greenore, Co. Louth in October. This multi-agency cross border operation was led by officers of the Revenue Custom's Service and supported by An Garda Síochána, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Irish Naval Service, and the Air Corps. Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) were also prominent. The European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF was involved from the outset and they will coordinate the follow-up investigations in the Philippines where the vessel was loaded.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the seizure resulted in nine arrests. Following interviews, all of the persons arrested were released without charge, pending the preparation of an investigation file by the Revenue Commissioners, once all necessary inquiries have been completed.

I am advised that there is excellent level of cooperation and sharing of information that between these organisations. While the Revenue Commissioners have primary responsibility in relation to cigarette smuggling, a multi-agency approach is adopted where appropriate.

Both organisations also work closely together on other issues and I wish to commend the ongoing success of our Joint Task Force on Drugs through which An Garda Síochána, Revenue's Customs Service and the Irish Naval Service come together and co-operate closely in joint operations targeting drug trafficking.

Both An Garda Síochána and the Customs Service are working side by side at the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics) in Lisbon which is an excellent example of inter-agency cooperation. The Deputy will recall that in November 2008, with the assistance of the Lisbon Centre, Operation Seabight resulted in the seizure of 1.5 tonnes of cocaine off our south west coast from the yacht "Dances with Waves". This was regarded as a very significant drug seizure globally.