Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
150. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of operations of the joint task force on drug interdiction involving the Defence Forces in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15971/18]
View answerThe Joint Task Force on Drug Interdiction (JTF) was established in 1993 as a Government measure to improve law enforcement in relation to illegal drug smuggling and consists of members of An Garda Síochána, the Customs Service and the Naval Service.
Overall responsibility for the prevention of drug trafficking rests primarily with the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners, while responsibility for the prevention of crime rests primarily with An Garda Síochána. The White Paper on Defence (2015) reaffirms the security role carried out by the Defence Forces in support of this important work.
The Defence Organisation has participated in a number of high profile drug interdiction operations resulting in significant seizures of drugs. For operational and security reasons, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to disclose details of operations of the JTF involving the Defence Organisation.
