Written answers
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Department of Finance
Drugs Seizures
10:00 pm
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will outline in tabular form the number and type of prescription drugs seized by customs officials to date in 2012. [26596/12]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will outline in tabular form the total number of prescription drugs seized by customs officials annually from 2005 to 2011; the type of drugs seized; and the estimated value of same. [26598/12]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will outline in tabular form the total quantity and estimated value of illegal non-prescription drugs seized by customs officials from 2005 to 2011. [26606/12]
Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 to 53, inclusive, together.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the following tables set out the details requested by the Deputy of seizures by Revenue's customs service of prescription drugs and illegal non-prescription drugs:
Prescription drugs seized
Year | Number of Tablets | Estimated value € |
2012 | 360,527 | 686,383 |
The principal types of prescription drugs encountered to date in 2012 are sedatives such as benzodiazepines, sleeping tablets, erectile dysfunction medicines, steroids and slimming tablets.
Prescription drugs seized
Year | Number of Tablets | Estimated value € |
2005 | 14,902 | 147,924 |
2006 | 1,160 | 16,205 |
2007 | 207,178 | 1,534,615 |
2008 | 556,956 | 1,665,191 |
2009 | 935,181 | 2,384,530 |
2010 | 1,652,124 | 2,752,219 |
2011 | 1,285,340 | 2,211,079 |
The principal types of prescription drugs seized over the course of 2005 to 2011 have been sedatives such as benzodiazepines, sleeping tablets, erectile dysfunction medicines, steroids and slimming tablets.
Section 17 of the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 appointed officers of Customs as enforcement officers for the purpose of the Irish
Medicines Board Act 1995. Revenue's Customs service works closely with the Irish Medicines Board in enforcing the law relating to medicinal products, drug precursors, medical devices and other healthcare products.
Illegal non-prescription drugs seized in 2005
Type of Drug | Quantity (kg) | Value (€) |
Herbal Cannabis | 180 | 360,000 |
Cannabis Resin | 3,784 | 28,100,000 |
Ecstasy | 78,964 tablets | 2,400,000 |
Heroin | 0.01 | 1,700 |
Cocaine | 63.3 | 4,400,000 |
Khat | 373 | 750,000 |
LSD | 65,408 tablets | 650,000 |
Illegal non-prescription drugs seized in 2006
Type of Drug | Quantity (kg) | Value (€) |
Herbal Cannabis | 131 | 260,000 |
Cannabis Resin | 25.6 | 176,000 |
Ecstasy | 1,123 tablets | 13,000 |
Heroin | 0.6 | 51,000 |
Cocaine | 61.1 | 6,001,000 |
Khat | 473 | 905,000 |
LSD | 1528 microdots0.001 kg | 15,000 |
Illegal non-prescription drugs seized in 2007
Type of Drug Quantity (kg) Value (€)
Herbal Cannabis | 1,406.31 kg | 16,141,678 |
Cannabis Resin | 414.5 kg | 2,901,893 |
Ecstasy | 3,333 tablets | 106,445 |
Heroin | 22.8 kg | 4,565,778 |
Cocaine | 1,617.9 kg* | 113,251,542 |
Khat | 168.1 kg | 336,200 |
LSD | 5 tabs | 50* Includes 1,550kg from attempted landing at Dunlough Bay, Cork in July 2007 |
Illegal non-prescription drugs seized in 2008
Type of Drug | Quantity (kg) | Value (€) |
Herbal Cannabis | 459 | 5,507,663 |
Cannabis Resin | 3196.7 | 22,377,100 |
Heroin | 70.2 | 14,046,700 |
Cocaine | 1545* | 108,150,000 |
Ecstasy | 62 tabs | 310 |
Khat | 47.9 | 89,800 |
LSD | 350 tabs | 3,500* Includes a maritime seizure of 1,500 Kgs. ('Dances With Waves') |
Illegal non-prescription drugs seized in 2009
Type of Drug | Quantity (kg) | Value (€) |
Herbal Cannabis | 1,170.4 | 14,245,506 |
Cannabis Resin | 2,276.2 | 15,924,144 |
Heroin | 0.002 | 300 |
Cocaine | 34 | 2,379,670 |
Ecstasy | 75 tabs | 377 |
Khat | 50.3 | 100,500 |
LSD | 1000 tabs | 10,000 |
Illegal non-prescription drugs seized in 2010
Type of Drug | Quantity (Kg) | Value (€) |
Herbal Cannabis | 259 | 3,147,297 |
Cannabis Resin | 6.8 | 40,622 |
Ecstasy | 698 tablets | 3,390 |
Heroin | 1.3 | 189,900 |
Cocaine | 37.4 | 2,615,095 |
Khat | 218.3 | 436,600 |
LSD | 0.1 | 1,500 |
Illegal non-prescription drugs seized in 2011
Type of Drug | Quantity (Kg) | Value (€) |
Herbal Cannabis | 449.5 | 5,394,013 |
Cannabis Resin | 935.4 | 5,612,347 |
Ecstasy | 50,722 tablets | 254,382 |
Heroin | 1.7 | 255,900 |
Cocaine | 138.5 | 9,697,242 |
Khat | 177.1 | 354,200 |
LSD | 0.04 | 600 |
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