asked the Minister for Finance in the light of the high incidence of drug abuse in the country, if he intends to provide an increased number of fully trained customs and excise officials at each port; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Drug Detection at Ports.
474.
As I informed the House on 15 November 1984 during the debate on the Second Report of the Select Committee on Crime, Lawlessness and Vandalism, approximately 400 customs officers of varying rank are employed in preventive controls at airports, ports and land frontier posts. These officials, as part of their duties, deal with smuggling by individuals as well as with search of ships, aircraft and vehicles for contraband. They are trained in the identification and detection of drugs and they examine baggage and question selected passengers specifically as to possession of drugs, having regard in their selection to where the passengers originated and the transit points through which passage was made.
As part of normal control of imports, commercial cargoes are also physically examined on a selective basis by customs officials other than those specifically engaged on preventive duties. All measures to detect drug smuggling, including the deployment of customs and excise staff, are kept constantly under review by the Revenue Commissioners. At present there are no plans to increase the number of customs and excise staff.
475.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the amount and kind of equipment for drug detection in use at Rosslare Harbour, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A drug identification kit, which is the most modern of its kind available, is in use by Customs at Rosslare Harbour for drug detection purposes.
476.
asked the Minister for Finance the number of fully-trained personnel working in Customs and Excise on the detection of drugs at Rosslare Harbour, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
All 29 Customs and Excise officers employed at Rosslare Harbour have been trained in the detection of drugs.
477.
asked the Minister for Finance the number of drug seizures at Rosslare Port, County Wexford, over the past four years; the name and quantity of such drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Statistics are not available of drug seizures at Rosslare Harbour prior to May 1981.
Between May 1981 and 31 December 1984 officers of Customs and Excise at Rosslare Harbour made the following seizures:
|
Year |
No. of seizures |
Type of Drug seized |
Quantity Seized |
||
|
1981 |
2 |
Herbal Cannabis |
2 |
.158 |
grams |
|
Cannabis Resin |
4,000 |
.00 |
grams |
||
|
1982 |
2 |
Canabis Resin |
3 |
.50 |
grams |
|
Canabis Resin |
3 |
.00 |
grams |
||
|
1983 |
3 |
Cannabis Resin |
2,500 |
.00 |
grams |
|
Herbal Cannabis |
1 |
.125 |
grams |
||
|
Warfarin Tablets |
12 |
tablets |
|||
|
1984 |
3 |
Cannabis Resin |
2,290 |
.00 |
grams |
|
Cannabis Resin |
1 |
.90 |
grams |
||
|
Cannabis Resin |
0 |
.39 |
grams |