Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised that Revenue has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs intended to be smuggled or illegally imported into, or exported from, the State.

Revenue’s drugs interdiction strategy supports the Government’s strategic approach to the misuse of drugs under the National Drugs Strategy 2017-2025. The Government is acutely aware of the sustained and significant damage that the importation of illicit drugs has on communities right across the country, and every effort is made to combat not just the importation of illicit drugs but also firearms, ammunition and cash that inevitably accompany this very serious organised criminal activity.

As part of its risk focused approach to the discharge of its role in relation to illegal drug importations, Revenue monitors and evaluates ports, harbours and inlets along the coastline on an ongoing basis to identify the risk potential for drug smuggling. This work is supplemented by Revenue’s Customs Drug Watch Programme aimed at encouraging members of the public, along with coastal and local maritime communities to notify Revenue of suspect or unusual activity at sea or around the coastline by way of a confidential 24/7 free phone facility - 1800 295 295.

I am advised that Revenue uses the latest detection methods at the national points of entry into the State, with the deployment of resources such as scanners, drug detector dogs and 24/7 staff, where required. Alongside the detection equipment and technologies deployed at the main points of entry, Revenue also deploys two Revenue Customs Cutters to patrol the coastline, undertake vessel controls and support maritime surveillance and intelligence gathering duties in relation to drugs. These vessels work closely with teams of land-based enforcement officers involved in anti-smuggling duties deployed to cover potential high-risk areas along the coastline.

Given the global nature of the illicit drugs trade, international law enforcement cooperation remains a key element in Revenue’s overall response. Revenue has strong and strategic partnerships in place at international level targeting drugs trafficking, including working closely with relevant law enforcement agencies such as Europol and the Maritime Analysis Operations Centre for Narcotics (MAOC-N). Revenue liaison officers are stationed in both Europol and MAOC-N, ensuring Revenue is at the forefront in the area of drugs enforcement at an international level. These officers work closely with international colleagues in identifying the transnational risks associated with drug smuggling into the State.

Furthermore Revenue is an active participant, along with its national and EU partners, in initiatives under the umbrella of the EU Roadmap to Tackle Drugs and Organised Crime. These initiatives, including the European Ports Alliance, provide for EU-wide collaboration and information sharing on best practices to increase security and resilience in tackling the threat posed by drug trafficking and organised crime.

At a national level, the Joint Task Force, which is an interagency collaboration consisting of Revenue, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Naval Service, was put in place specifically to target illicit drug importations by sea into Ireland and uses the full capability and resources of each agency as required at an operational level.

The Joint Task Force operates successfully under agreed protocols when activated for a specific targeted operation. During 2023, it was initiated on three occasions to act on specific targeted intelligence regarding suspected drug importations by sea. One of these operations resulted in the seizure of 2,253kgs of cocaine, with an estimated value of €157 million, and the arrest of 8 crew members from two maritime vessels in Cork in September 2023. This was the largest seizure of cocaine in the history of the State.

I am assured that combatting the smuggling of controlled drugs into and out of this jurisdiction is, and will continue to be, a priority for Revenue.