Colm M. Hilliard
Ceist:13 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Justice the street value of illegal drugs seized in the State since 1 January 1995. [13764/95]
Written Answers. - Drug Seizures.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the normal measure used to quantify amounts of drugs seized is by reference to the weight of the substance or the number of items. The so-called "street value" of drugs is an imprecise measure and does not allow for comparison on a year by year basis.
The most recent official figures of drugs seized are those for 1994 which I am supplying in a following tabular statement. We do not have official figures — by which I mean figures that are finalised — as yet for 1995 but there are tentative figures indicating that, in the case of certain drugs, the seizure level is upwards.
For example, as regards the drug commonly referred to as Ecstasy, 2,000 tablets were seized in 1993 and 28,000 tablets were seized in 1994. However, so far this year, 180,000 tables have been seized. This figure continues to rise. As regards heroin, 1,284 grams were seized in 1993. By the following year, this had jumped to 4,650 grams. So far this year, in excess of 2,000 grams has been seized.
The last figure only takes into account the amount which has been analysed in the Forensic Science Laboratory to date. When all of the seizures have been analysed, this figure will be undoubtedly greater. Overall, in the first six months of this year, the Garda made 2,835 drug seizures. This is a 9 per cent increase in the number of seizures over the same period last year. This is in line with the upward trend in drug seizures witnessed in recent years. In 1992, the number of seizures increased by 20 per cent. In 1993, the number increased by 15 per cent and last year the number increased by 9.5 per cent. As I already said, the number of seizures has increased by 9 per cent so far this year.
Particulars of Drugs Seized in 1994
|
Type of Drug |
Quantity Seized |
|
Cannabis Resin |
1,460,722 grams |
|
Cannabis Herb |
65,459 grams |
|
Cannabis Plants |
126 Plants |
|
Heroin |
4,649 grams |
|
Cocaine |
45.6 grams |
|
LSD |
16,634 tablets |
|
Amphetamine |
186 tablets/354.4 grams |
|
Ecstasy— |
|
|
MDA/MDMA/ MDEA |
28,671 tablets |
|
Morphine |
978 tablets |
|
Benzodiazephines |
3,130 tablets |
|
Synthetic Narcotics |
1,599 tablets |