Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 1995

Vol. 455 No. 2

Written Answers. - Drugs Smuggling.

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

49 Mr. Deasy. asked the Minister for Finance the measures, if any, the Customs and Excise service is taking to prevent the smuggling of drugs by sea into this country; the equipment and manpower available to the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11901/95]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

As the Deputy will be aware, a Customs National Drugs Team — CNDT — was set up by the Revenue Commissioners with the advent of the Single Market and in view of the increased role Ireland is now required to play in protecting our coastline as well as that of the European Union, in the battle against the illegal importation of drugs. The CNDT, comprising over 70 staff, consists of intelligence units, operational units, maritime units and sniffer-dog units which are strategically placed throughout the country. All units are mobile and are based at locations covering the entire coastline. These specialist officials supplement the general cadre of Customs and Excise staff who are also responsible for the detection and prevention of drug smuggling as part of their normal duties.

The CNDT includes five maritime units, located in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Sligo. Two units are located in Cork as a response to the level of activity which has been encountered along the south west coast and because Cork is used as a training base for maritime duties. Maritime Units use semi-rigid inflatable boats at inshore locations in coastal waters. The Naval Service and the Air Corps provide assistance to Customs, on request, when there is need to monitor suspect ships and yachts out to sea.

There are six sniffer-dog units, located in Dublin — which has two units, Rosslare, Cork, Shannon and Sligo. Because they are mobile, these units may also be deployed to other locations as necessary.

CNDT staff are provided with specialist equipment, including fibrescopes, to facilitate examination of cargo, etc., radio scanners, cameras, surveillance equipment and night scopes.

Because of the vital role played by intelligence in combating drug smuggling, the Customs Service has devoted considerable attention to ways of enhancing intelligence gathering. Twenty-eight staff of the CNDT are specially dedicated to this work. The co-operation and assistance of trade associations as well as individual companies involved in the movement of goods and persons has been enlisted through the conclusion of Memoranda of Understanding. These are aimed at heightening the awareness of employees of shipping companies, freight forwarders, ferry companies and so on to the dangers of drugs smuggling and provide them with ready channels of communication with Customs.

The assistance of the general public has been sought through the drug watch programme under which Customs enlist the assistance of coastal communities, maritime personnel and people living near airfields by encouraging them to report unusual occurrences in their areas to Customs by Freefone or Freepost.

At international level, the Customs Service maintains close liaison and shares intelligence with other EU countries through direct contacts as well as through a computerised network known as the customs information system. There are now in excess of 300 computer terminals strategically located in EU members states, including Ireland, at all major ports and other entry points. The system provides a mechanism whereby Customs staff throughout the Union may send and receive at local operational level timely intelligence on the movement of suspect passengers, freight and transport. The Customs Service maintains contact and exchanges intelligence with non-EU countries in the context of Ireland's membership of the World Customs Organisation, which has now over 130 member countries.

There is close co-operation between all Government agencies — Customs, Garda, the Naval Service and the Air Corps — in the battle against drug smuggling. The Deputy may also know that the Minister for Justice, on foot of a report prepared in her Department in consultation with all concerned, will be putting proposals to Government to ensure that this co-operation is maximised.

Funding of almost £500,000 has been received from the EU Commission which has been used to acquire inshore craft, vehicles and specialist equipment for the CNDT. The possibilities for obtaining further EU funding to assist in combating drug smuggling are kept continually in mind.

The Revenue Commissioners are fully alert to the danger of drug smuggling by sea and other routes. I am satisfied that the measures I have outlined above provide adequate protection against the illegal importation of drugs. These measures will continue to be kept under review in the light of experience.