Vol. 546 No. 5
125 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed at the recent annual conference of RACO, that low bulk contraband, such as drugs, could be flown into one of the 60 licensed airstrips, practically without risk of detection; the steps being taken to monitor such airstrips; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32087/01]
The Office of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs at importation. They have particular responsibility for implementing import controls at points of entry to the State, specifically, at ports, airports, including licensed airfields, and on the land frontier. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that within the Customs and Excise enforcement branch there is a dedicated team of specialist customs officers which focuses specifically on drug smuggling, supported by the general cadre of the Customs and Excise Service. A number of years ago Revenue introduced a memorandum of understanding initiative, which involved reaching agreement with a number of organisations, trade associations and individual companies in the transport industry to encourage them to join the fight against drug smuggling as part of the Customs and Excise Drugs Watch programme.
The Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate to comment in detail on specific operations in the criminal area of drug smuggling. However, the Revenue Commissioners have advised me that the Drugs Watch programme incorporates a coastal and airfield reporting system whereby local Revenue officers visit all licensed aerodromes-airfields regularly. They have also put in place a confidential system of communication between the licensed aerodrome operators and the Customs enforcement branch. Through this network, which is two-way, officers have discussed with the operators such matters as known methods used by drug smugglers and indicators of suspicious activity. This can help the operators in identifying situations and activities that may indicate a drug smuggling operation is under way and which they should report. This reporting system is an important element in the fight against drug smuggling.
Best practice in customs administration worldwide shows that the development of information and intelligence is critical to the detection of drug smuggling. In Ireland, this has become increasingly important since the completion of the Single Market in 1993, based as it is on the free movement of goods and people within the Community. In addition to local intelligence, Revenue shares and receives information and intelligence on drug smuggling from a number of international bodies including the World Customs Organisation, United Nations Drug Control Programme, Interpol, Council of Europe, Europol and the UK's National Criminal Intelligence Service.
Revenue liaises on an ongoing basis with other national and international enforcement services such as the Garda Síochána, the Naval Service and Air Corps, and foreign customs and police services. It takes part on a regular basis in European, bilateral and national surveillance operations focused at specific drug smuggling methodologies, including general aviation. Some of these operations have been specifically directed at light aircraft and helicopter movements.
Since the outbreak of foot and mouth disease last February, Revenue has stepped up customs controls at all major ports and airports including licensed airstrips to monitor movements of goods and persons. These operations are ongoing.
Through a system of risk analysis and profiling, Revenue operational resources in anti-smuggling activities are deployed to counteract the areas of greatest risk. The Revenue Commissioners keep all operations of the Customs and Excise enforcement branch under review, including its drug smuggling operations. The Commissioners are currently implementing the recommendations of a detailed review of the enforcement branch designed to strengthen the enforcement capability of the office.
