Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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A core focus of the work carried out by An Garda Síochána is aimed at tackling drug distribution and organised crime. The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs remains a priority for An Garda Síochána and the other state agencies tasked with responsibilities in this regard.

Since its establishment in 2015, the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, which manages national and international drug trafficking and organised crime investigations, has continued to make significant seizures of controlled drugs and to make related arrests.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that recent intelligence-led operations have resulted in significant drugs seizures by An Garda Síochána, including a seizure of heroin with an estimated value of €1 million euro (subject to analysis) in Dublin and Meath on Sunday, 1 September. This seizure was part of a joint operation involving members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency.

Such seizures represent a major blow to criminal gangs, who planned to profit from selling these drugs. The success of this and other operations demonstrates the effectiveness of the various enforcement bodies within this State working together with their international counterparts.

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table from data available in the 2015 to 2017 Annual Reports of An Garda Síochána. The 2018 annual report has not yet been published, and data to date in 2019 is not yet available.

Drug Seizures by An Garda Síochána, 2015-2017

Cannabis plants are calculated on figures recorded on PULSE as not all plants are routinely sent to FSI. All figures are provisional, operational and subject to change. The above figures refer to drug seizures conducted by An Garda Síochána alone and do not include the amount and value of drugs seized in multi-agency operations in which An Garda Síochána was centrally involved.