Vol. 539 No. 1
354 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress the Garda Síochána is making in order to prevent the importation and distribution of illegal drugs; if the Garda Síochána is satisfied that successful prosecutions will follow recent seizures; if there is any noticeable non-national involvement in such importation and distribution of illegal drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18353/01]
I assure the Deputy that both the Garda Commissioner and I are totally committed to tackling the supply of illicit drugs. My policies in relation to combating the drugs problem are well known: tough legislation backed by strong law enforcement in tandem with an integrated partnership approach to dealing with the interlinked problems of drugs, crime and social disadvantage. This combination has resulted in significant drug seizures, major Irish based drug trafficking organisations being dismantled and local communities being actively involved in dealing with problems in their own areas.
The Garda is constantly tackling major drug trafficking groups and street level drug dealing, as well as dealing with the international aspects of drug trafficking. At national level, provisional statistics for 2000, indicate that An Garda Síochána seized illicit drugs with an estimated street value of almost £14 million. At local level, Garda operations such as Dóchas, Cleanstreet and Nightcap continue to prove effective in targeting on street dealing and the distribution of drugs in nightclubs and licensed premises. Provisional figures for 2000 indicate that the Garda made almost 7,000 arrests under these operations.
At international level, the Garda Síochána is playing an increasingly active role through co-operation and liaison with other police forces and through Garda liaison officers posted at Europol and Interpol headquarters and also in London, Paris, Madrid and The Hague. This increasing level of liaison has resulted in a number of significant internationally driven seizures.
The Garda authorities have informed me that in recent years there has been an increase in the number of non-nationals arrested for drug trafficking offences. In 1999, 86 non-nationals were arrested for drug trafficking offences and provisional figures for 2000 indicate that 188 non-nationals were arrested for drug trafficking offences. In all recent cases where substantial seizures have been made, prosecutions have been initiated.
