Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 7

Written Answers. - Drug Seizures.

Hugh Byrne

Question:

61 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Finance the number of drug seizures at Rosslare Port in 1995 and to date in 1996; the quantities and type of drug seized in each instance; the proportion of the total national drug seizure during this period that has been accounted for by drugs seized at Rosslare Port; the amount of drugs seized in other parts of County Wexford and off the Wexford coast during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12246/96]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that Customs made seven drug seizures at Rosslare Port in 1995 and three so far in 1996. Details of these seizures are as follows:

Drug	Quantity/Street Value
1995
Herbal Cannabis	9 kilograms/£36,000
Cannabis Resin	0.01 kilograms/£100
Ecstasy	10,000 tablets/£250,000
Cannabis Resin	60 kilogramms/£600,000
LSD	1 Tablet/£5
Cannabis Resins	0.01 kilograms/£100
Cannabis Resins	0.25 kilograms/£2,500
LSD	20 Tablets/£100
Amphetamine	0.003 kilograms/£90
Cannabis Resins	30 kilograms/£300,000
1996
Ecstasy	1,000 Tablets/£25,000
Cannabis Resin	0.005 kilograms/£50
Herbal Cannabis	0.001 kilograms/£4

In terms of estimated street values, the 1995 seizures at Rosslare Port represented some 3.4 per cent of all Customs seizures in that year. On the same basis, seizures so far this year at Rosslare Port account for some 2.7 per cent of total seizures.

Three seizures of cannabis resins totalling 270 kilograms with an estimated street value of £2.7 million were made off the Wexford coast during the period in question. Customs made no other seizures of drugs in County Wexford in this period.