Vol. 518 No. 2
131 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if organised crime, with particular reference to drugs, is on the increase; if drug barons are reorganising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11298/00]
134 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself that he has sufficient resources to combat the drugs crime syndicates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11301/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 134 together.
Never in the history of the State has the Garda Síochána been better resourced or equipped. Garda strength is rapidly heading towards 12,000, an all-time historic high. We are on target for increasing the capacity of the prison system by one third. Our tough anti-crime policies are yielding the anticipated good results with a further fall of 5% in crime figures last year leading to a cumulative fall of approximately 21% since the Government came into office.
My policy for dealing with drugs and organised crime is one of strong legislation backed up by tough enforcement to tackle drug dealing and trafficking. I have put in place the Criminal Justice Act, 1999, which provides for a minimum mandatory ten year prison sentence for persons convicted of dealing in drugs with a value of £10,000 or more. This Act has also introduced a range of new measures designed to prevent the intimidation of witnesses, jurors, those who are assisting the Garda in the investigation of an offence and their families, and provides for a maximum ten year sentence for such offences.
The Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996, which I introduced while in opposition, has been successfully utilised by the Criminal Assets Bureau to deprive those involved in criminal activity from enjoying the benefits of their ill-gotten gains. This legislation and the activities of the Criminal Assets Bureau have received much praise both at home and abroad.
On the enforcement side, the Garda Síochána has enjoyed considerable success in its operations both at national and local level. During the period from January 1998 to December 1999 drug seizures amounting to an estimated street value in excess of £120 million were made. In the period January 1998 to September 1999, Garda operations Dóchas, Cleanstreet and Mainstreet, aimed at combating drug dealing at local level, yielded seizures of illicit drugs with an estimated street value in excess of £12 million and resulted in over 15,700 arrests.
Overall, my policy of strong legislation backed up by tough law enforcement has resulted in record drug seizures, many Irish based drug trafficking organisations being dismantled, major drug barons fleeing abroad and a high percentage of persons who are prosecuted being convicted and sentenced to prison.
