Vol. 465 No. 4
37 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice the number of criminal gangs headed by so-called drugs barons supplying heroin in the Dublin area; the number involved as distributors, pushers and so on in each of the criminal networks concerned; the progress, if any, the Garda have made in relation to each of the drug barons; and when these individuals will be brought before the courts. [9811/96]
It is not the practice for the Minister for Justice to make statements to the House about the progress of Garda investigations either in individual cases or particular categories of cases except in singular instances where the circumstances are so exceptional that such a course is deemed to be appropriate. The Deputy may be assured, however, that gangs referred to are being targeted by the Garda Síochána.
On a general note, I should record that the gardaí have made a number of significant seizures of heroin in recent months and a number of persons are awaiting trial as a result. Incidentally, the number of persons charged in relation to drugs offences involving heroin in 1994 — the last year for which figures are available — was more than the combined totals for the two previous years. In 1994, 230 persons were charged in relation to offences involving heroin while the figures for 1992 and 1993 were 91 and 81 respectively.
