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Drugs Seizures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019

Friday, 6 September 2019

Questions (682)

John Curran

Question:

682. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the types of drug and the quantities and values of each seized by An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36575/19]

View answer

Written answers

A core focus of the work carried out by An Garda Síochána is aimed at tackling drug distribution and organised crime. The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs remains a priority for An Garda Síochána and the other state agencies tasked with responsibilities in this regard.

Since its establishment in 2015, the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, which manages national and international drug trafficking and organised crime investigations, has continued to make significant seizures of controlled drugs and to make related arrests.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that recent intelligence-led operations have resulted in significant drugs seizures by An Garda Síochána, including a seizure of heroin with an estimated value of €1 million euro (subject to analysis) in Dublin and Meath on Sunday, 1 September. This seizure was part of a joint operation involving members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency.

Such seizures represent a major blow to criminal gangs, who planned to profit from selling these drugs. The success of this and other operations demonstrates the effectiveness of the various enforcement bodies within this State working together with their international counterparts.

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table from data available in the 2015 to 2017 Annual Reports of An Garda Síochána. The 2018 annual report has not yet been published, and data to date in 2019 is not yet available.

Drug Seizures by An Garda Síochána, 2015-2017

Year

2015

2016

2017

TOTAL

Anabolic Steroids

(Grams/mls/Plant)

24

63

185

272

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

1,763

371

833

2,967

Value

€1,058

€223

€548

€1,829

Benzodiazepines

(Grams/mls/Plant)

749

1,364

16,341

18454

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

495,557

74,122

115,567

685246

Value

€991,113

€135,686

€1,374,908

€2,501,707

Cannabis Herb

(Grams/mls/Plant)

558,678

479,695

2,597,258

3635631

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

3

3

Value

€11,173,554

€9,593,907

€53,290,457

€74,057,918

Cannabis Plants

(Grams/mls/Plant)

12,539

7,273

9,046

28858

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

0

Value

€10,031,084

€5,818,247

€7,237,175

€23,086,506

Cannabis Resin

(Grams/mls/Plant)

263,363

59,089

79,007

401459

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

0

Value

€1,580,178

€354,533

€593,945

€2,528,656

Cathinones

(Grams/mls/Plant)

6,744

3,619

728

11091

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

69

107

176

Value

€236,041

€180,940

€50,197

€467,178

Cocaine

(Grams/mls/Plant)

108,817

91,016

51,811

251644

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

374

374

Value

€7,617,223

€6,371,150

€3,963,371

€17,951,744

Diamorphine

(Grams/mls/Plant)

61,741

38,386

18,226

118353

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

3

2

5

Value

€9,261,194

€5,374,033

€2,880,502

€17,515,729

Hallucinogens

(Grams/mls/Plant)

22,136

3,990

23,775

49901

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

4,956

1,128

367

6451

Value

€1,576,943

€238,335

€111,509

€1,926,787

Mixing Agents

(Grams/mls/Plant)

49,656

83,218

58,483

191357

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

315

340

209

864

Value

€24,828

€41,609

€32,333

€98,770

Opioids Other

(Grams/mls/Plant)

12,448

3,087

2,739

18274

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

76

192

515

783

Value

€4,108

€617

€64,790

€69,515

Other

(Grams/mls/Plant)

117

117

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

458

3,521

3979

Value

€0

€347

€347

Phenethylamines (including ecstasy (MDMA) and other similar related drugs)

(Grams/mls/Plant)

27,436

24,051

25,527

77014

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

187,681

30,257

15,468

233406

Value

€3,522,972

€1,556,257

€2,203,895

€7,283,124

Piperazine

(Grams/mls/Plant)

172

97

33

302

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

2,304

30

354

2688

Value

€20,103

€4,993

€3,425

€28,521

Sleeping Tablet

(Grams/mls/Plant)

15

5,711

5726

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

331,896

16,070

23,652

371618

Value

€663,792

€32,140

€47,804

€743,736

Solvents

(Grams/mls/Plant)

2,961

3,646

6607

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

0

Value

€2,961

€3,646

€6,607

Synthetic Cannabinoids

(Grams/mls/Plant)

3

15

59

77

(Tbls/Sqr/Caps)

0

Value

€57

€303

€1,189

€1,549

TOTAL VALUE

€46,704,248

€29,706,281

€71,859,695

€148,270,224

Cannabis plants are calculated on figures recorded on PULSE as not all plants are routinely sent to FSI. All figures are provisional, operational and subject to change. The above figures refer to drug seizures conducted by An Garda Síochána alone and do not include the amount and value of drugs seized in multi-agency operations in which An Garda Síochána was centrally involved.

Questions Nos. 683 and 684 answered with Question No. 618.
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