Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 2

Written Answers. - Street Value of Illegal Drugs.

Charlie McCreevy

Ceist:

17 Mr. McCreevy asked the Minister for Justice the current street value of commonly used illegal drugs; the comparative value of such drugs on corresponding dates for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12904/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that, given the clandestine nature of the illicit drugs trade, it is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

What I can provide is information relating to the quantities of certain commonly-used drugs seized, by reference to weight or number, over the last five years which is as follows:

	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
Cannabis Herb	50Kg	17Kg	1,217g	65Kg	78Kg
Cannabis Resin	1,102Kg	498Kg	4,200Kg	1,460Kg	15,529Kg
Heroin	161g	794g	1,285g	4,649g	6,400g
Cocaine	31g	9,580g	348g	46g	21,800g
Ecstasy	429t	1,338t	2,014t	28,671t	*173,699t

Kg = Kilograms. g = Grams. t = Tablets.

*Included in this figure is a sufficient quantity of ecstasy seized in the form of powder to make 50,000 tablets.

It should be noted that the figures for 1995 are provisional.