Vol. 520 No. 3
41 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if sufficient resources are available to the joint task force between the Garda, customs service and Naval Service charged with combating the illegal importation of drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13716/00]
The Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for the apprehension and arrest of persons suspected of smuggling or the illegal importation of controlled drugs.
The Customs and Excise Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs intended to be smuggled into the State by sea and air.
My colleague the Minister for Defence has informed me, that while the main day to day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service, Naval Service vessels may be deployed during the course of routine patrols to anti-drug smuggling operations. Naval Service vessels are specifically tasked from time to time to carry out drug search and interdiction operations in aid of the civil authorities.
The joint task force, involving the Garda, the Customs and Excise Service and the Naval Service, established in 1993 is utilised to co-ordinate an appropriate strategy for the seizure of drugs and the apprehension of the criminals involved in smuggling drugs into Ireland. This task force comes together where there is sufficient intelligence available to warrant an operation. All three agencies are involved if the operation has a maritime dimension and where the operation is other than maritime in nature and does not require the expertise of the Naval Service only the Garda Síochána and the Customs and Excise Service are involved.
Fourteen joint operations involving the customs and excise service and the Garda have been undertaken in the past two years. As a result of these operations drugs with an estimated street value in excess of £19 million were seized.
Finally I am satisfied that sufficient resources are available to enable the joint task force to operate effectively when appropriate.
