Written Answers. - Drug Trafficking.
Dick Spring
Ceist:
43
Mr. Spring
asked the
Minister for Finance
if he has satisfied himself that sufficient safeguards will exist to prevent an increase in the trafficking of cocaine into Ireland in the aftermath of the harmonisation of laws and procedures related to the completion of the Internal Market post-1992.
All aspects of drug misuse and measures to control trafficking in drugs at national and international level are dealt with in the "Government's Strategy to Prevent Drug Misuse", which was launched by my colleague, the Minister for Health, last Monday.
As regards the customs aspects of this issue, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they have no evidence of any substantial smuggling of cocaine at present. Similarly, I am informed that the gardaí are also satisfied that there is no evidence of significant abuse of cocaine in the State. The customs authorities are, however, fully alive to the danger that Ireland might, in future, be targeted by traffickers in cocaine, either as a supply point for the drug or as an entry point to Europe.
At present, the Customs Service represent the first line of defence against the illegal importation of controlled drugs, including cocaine, and it will continue to have an important role after 1992.
Although the completion of the Single Market will see the removal of the present system of customs controls between member states, some checks will, nevertheless, continue to be carried out on goods and persons at internal EC frontiers after 1992 in order to combat drugs smuggling. In a declaration which it adopted in October 1990, the EC Council recognised that these checks must take account of the expectation of business and travellers for freedom of movement and must, therefore, be unobstrusive, selective and highly targeted on traffic of greatest risk.
The EC Council also noted in October 1990 that in order to meet the danger that illicit trafficking in goods such as drugs will take advantage of the open European Market after 1992, effective control proportionate to the risk must be ensured at a uniformly high technical standard at the Community's external frontier, and co-operation between Customs Services and with other law enforcement agencies must be further strengthened.
On the customs front, intensive work is going on at present in order to meet these twin objectives. An expert group setup by the heads of EC Customs Services — and on which the Revenue Commissioners are represented — are formulating an overall strategy to improve the effectiveness of customs control at the external frontier. The group are also assessing the information needs of customs to support the fight against smuggling, as well as possible links with police and immigration information systems. Issues such as technical equipment needs as well as specialist training for customs staff are also under active consideration by the group.
It is envisaged that the existing high level of co-operation and mutual assistance between the EC Customs Services to detect and combat drug smuggling will be enhanced. Regular operations are also carried out by the Customs Services to monitor and exchange information on suspicious movements of air passengers and this monitoring activity is being extended to suspect air freight movements.
As announced in the "Government Strategy to Prevent Drug Abuse", the Revenue Commissioners are currently studying proposals for changes in the law to combat the practice of drug smuggling in the form of ingestion or concealment in body cavities.
I might add that the Garda authorities are also very aware of the dangers of cocaine abuse and I refer the Deputy to the Official Report of 2 May 1991, Cols. 1989-95 in this regard. In particular, I would like to point to the work of the TREVI Group in combating drug trafficking, including cocaine.
A special working group was set up in 1989 to study the implications of the proposed removal of border controls within the EC at the end of 1992 and the action to be taken to deal with terrorism, illegal drug trafficking and international organised crime. A programme of action was approved by TREVI Ministers at their meeting in Dublin in June 1990. The programme of action includes specific measures designated to reinforce and build on existing co-operation in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, organised crime and illegal immigration.
Work on the implementation of these measures is proceeding at an accelerated pace. A sub-group of TREVI is concerned with organised crime, except terrorism, and is particularly involved in the fight against drug trafficking. Some specific measures at present being considered by this group include: the setting up of a European Drugs Intelligence Unit, the provision of training for police officers from drug producing and transit countries, the extension of the network of drug liasion officers assigned to other member states and to third countries, and consideration of the measures necessary to strengthen controls at external frontiers before I Janaury 1993.
I might add that the need to develop and co-ordinate effective measures against drugs was one of the twin themes of the TREVI Presidency held by Ireland in 1990. The subsequent Italian and Luxembourg Presidencies have ensured that the subject of drugs continues to be kept to the fore.
I am, accordingly, satisfied that all possible steps are being taken to deal with the problem of illicit drug trafficking, including cocaine trafficking, and that full account is being taken of the particular threats posed in this area by the Internal Market situation.
