Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2012
34. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the ongoing reports of cannabis cultivation and the sale of prescription drugs here, the law enforcement efforts being made to tackle this illicit drug trade; his views on whether the Gardaí have adequate resources and enough trained drug squad members to deal with this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46508/12]
View answerAn Garda Síochána continues to prioritise organised crime and the sale and supply of drugs as a core focus for 2012, through the Garda Síochána Policing Plan. Multi-agency approaches have been, and continue to be, used by An Garda Síochána whereby all of the National Units including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Drugs Unit and the Garda Technical Bureau, along with the Criminal Assets Bureau, are use to combat serious crime including those involved in the trafficking, importation, sale an supply of illegal drugs.
As referred to by the Deputy, the emergence in recent times of cannabis cultivation sites and the illicit trade in medicines are particular features of the current drugs landscape. In this regard, the Garda National Drugs Unit continues to spearhead ‘Operation Nitrogen’, which is an intelligence-led nationwide operation focused on the discovery, and investigation into, cannabis cultivation sites and the prosecution of persons and criminal organisations responsible for them. As highlighted in the Garda Siochána Annual Report for 2011, this ongoing targeted initiative led to over 500 cannabis grow houses being located under intelligence led operations, resulting in over 26,000 cannabis plants with an estimated value of €10.5m being seized.
With regard to the illicit trade in medicines, I can inform the Deputy that An Garda Síochána continues to work closely with all of the relevant State agencies tasked with the enforcement of the medicines legislation. This was clearly demonstrated by the recent involvement of An Garda Síochána, together with the Irish Medicines Board and the Revenue Customs Service, in Operation Pangea V. This Operation is a long term Interpol operation aimed at policing the online availability of unlicensed and counterfeit medicines.
With regard to the resources available to An Garda Síochána. as the Deputy will appreciate, the allocation of all resources, including personnel, is a matter entirely for the Garda Commissioner in consultation with his senior management and I have no direct function in the matter. Finally I can assure the Deputy of the continued commitment of An Garda Síochána, in cooperation with law enforcement colleagues, to tackling the illegal trade in drugs in all its guises.
