Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 May 1992

Vol. 419 No. 3

Adjournment Debate. - Drug Trafficking.

Mr. Gregory

In the early eighties when heroin and other hard drugs became a major problem here, particularly in Dublin's inner city, a number of notorious criminal families were the main suppliers. As a result of the efforts of the Garda drug units and the response of the local communities, led by the concerned parents movement, the drug godfathers were put out of business, put behind bars, or forced to get out of the country. For a number of years the heroin problem appeared to have peaked but regrettably, over the last few years the problem has again reached the proportions of the early eighties and is now even more serious because it is more widespread, affecting many areas in Dublin and its suburbs and other cities. At every stage there has been a consistent official policy of refusal to accept the seriousness or even the real extent of the problem. Even the needed local Garda drug units assigned to specific areas where there is a serious drugs problem have been tortuously slow in getting official sanction, perhaps because the hard drugs problem is largely concentrated in poor urban areas long accustomed to official neglect by Government agencies. The Central Drug Unit in 1982 had 26 members and today ten years later it has only 30 members, despite the ever expanding drugs problem on a national scale. Against this background it came as no great surprise to me to read the following in the Irish Times in an article on 13 April last:

Six major drug traffickers from Britain and the Netherlands are now conducting their operations from Ireland. Some 10 Irish nationals are also believed to be dealing on international markets. At least one is thought to be as prominent as the foreign incomers . . .

The largest of the dealers conducts an elaborate trade in a variety of drugs from South America and the Dutch Antilles to the US and Canada. He is also suspected of smuggling narcotics into Ireland . . .

According to the authorities there is a second large-scale trafficker closely associated with the largest operator. He is suspected of being a major player in the European amphetamine trade . . .

Another suspected trafficker is living in an isolated home . . .

He is believed to deal in cannabis and heroin, is associated with drug dealers in Britain and travels to Pakistan regularly. Yet another major figure in the international scene has moved to Ireland recently and is suspected of being involved with a wide range of drugs, but is reputed to specialise in amphetamines . . .

About 10 are thought to be dealing in cannabis, heroin and cocaine on an international scale. The Dublin-based operator who is thought to be the largest conducts business between Britain, the Netherlands, the US and Canada and has served a jail sentence abroad for drug-related offences.

The authorities are aware of the whereabouts of the traffickers, who are enormously wealthy and generally favour secluded homes where covert surveillance operations can be easily detected . . .

It is believed that some of the major traffickers are engaging in high-profile legitimate business here in order to launder drugs money.

I am asking the Minister if he can confirm the accuracy or otherwise of these statements. If the statements are correct they pose a number of serious questions. The Minister has direct responsibility in this area. Is this country being increasingly regarded as being safe for major drug traffickers as a base for their operations? Do the traffickers believe that the dedicated Garda drug units simply do not have the resources or the manpower to deal with them? If this trend continues will Ireland inevitably be flooded with hard drugs like heroin, cocaine and crack as was suggested by a US police officer in today's edition of The Irish Times? Will the Minister outline the steps he intends to take and the resources he intends to make available to deal with this very serious and real threat?

Minister for Justice (Mr. Flynn)

The Garda authorities are aware, through intelligence gathering and surveillance operations, that a small number of persons including both Irish nationals and others are involved in the importation of drugs into this country.

For obvious reasons I cannot go into detail on the operations which the Garda are mounting to deal with such criminals but I have every confidence in the effectiveness of Garda action in this respect. Indeed the House will be aware from recent media reports of the successes the Garda have achieved through operations targeted at drug suppliers.

I can assure the House that the problem of drugs will continue to receive the highest priority. The Garda authorities monitor the situation very closely. They constantly review and adapt their strategies to deal with it. These strategies include close liaison with Customs authorities and continuous international co-operation with police forces abroad so as to curb the supply of illicit drugs to this country.

International co-operation is of course, vital to effective action against drug traffickers. In the time available to me, I cannot go into detail on the many important fora for such co-operation. However, I will mention a significant new initiative in tackling drug trafficking, that is the establishment of a Europol Drugs Unit. It is intended that this unit will be established by the end of this year and will act as a centralised exchange and co-ordination unit for, in particular, drug-related information between member states. This unit should be of great practical benefit to us in dealing with drug trafficking. I very much welcome its establishment.

The Garda authorities treat drug law enforcement as a priority. All members of the Garda Síochána deal with law enforcement aspects of drugs misuse within their operational area. There are now gardaí specially trained in this area in every Garda Division. In addition, specific Garda drug squads operate in Dublin, Cork and Limerick and, at present small specialist units are in operation in Dublin's north inner city, Ballymun, Ballyfermot and Tallaght. Similar specialist units are set up on a temporary basis in other areas as required. The services of the drug squad are also made available to all areas as required.

A National Drugs Unit, which was set up in 1990, based in Garda headquarters, co-ordinates the Garda anti-drug efforts in this country and also acts as a liaison body with international drug enforcement agencies.

The allocation of manpower and other resources to specialist areas, such as drug enforcement, is of course a matter for the Garda authorities. They assure me that specialist drug units have been and will continue to be given the resources necessary for them to deal effectively with the problem. They have assured me also that they are keeping the situation under constant review.

Of course one of the most effective measures which can be taken against drug traffickers is to deprive them of the profits gained from their illegal activity. A Bill to do just that is at a very advanced stage of preparation and I expect to be able to introduce this Bill at an early date.

However, I must reiterate what I have said on a number of previous occasions — law enforcement alone will not solve this problem. Every member of society has a role to play. This role can be as important as the Garda response. The Government are aware that there is a need to tackle the drug problem on every front and that co-ordinated action must be taken to reduce the supply of, and demand for, drugs in this country. For this reason, my colleague, the Minister for Health, last year launched the Government strategy to prevent drug misuse. This strategy sets realistic objectives for the achievement of its aims.

I would like to assure the Deputy and the House that the drugs problem is being taken very seriously indeed and will continue to be the subject of ongoing urgent attention by the relevant authorities.