Written Answers. - Drug Trafficking.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
191
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Finance
the extent to which he or his European colleagues have considered the degree to which enhanced coastal surveillance can be achieved with a view to combating ongoing serious drug trafficking; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5008/03]
Customs services, both nationally and internationally, are acutely conscious of the importance of coastal surveillance and it is considered regularly at national and international fora.
The Customs and Excise Service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs at importation in Ireland and is well aware of the potential for smuggling drugs along our extensive coastline. The Customs Service operates a number of maritime units for inshore and coastal surveillance and is supported nationally by both the Irish Naval Service and the Air Corps. Over recent years, the Customs Service has had considerable success in seizing large quantities of drugs in maritime traffic. Many of these operations involved collaboration with the Garda Síochána and other national and international law enforcement agencies. The service also maintains close working relationships with other foreign customs and law enforcement services responsible for maritime and coastal surveillance. The appointment of a customs officer to the national Europol unit and the secondment of a customs attaché to the Irish embassy in London have served to enhance the flow of information and intelligence relating to drugs smuggling.
Conscious of the ongoing threat, the Customs and Excise Service continuously reviews the effectiveness of its anti-drug smuggling programmes and how such programmes can be enhanced in combating serious drug smuggling. One such recent enhancement was the promotion of the customs drugs watch programme, which is designed to seek assistance from individual members of the public, particularly those engaged in maritime activities and coastal communities. This programme involves local Customs and Excise officers distributing new drugs watch documentation with contact freephone numbers, enhancing contact with coastal communities and maximising public awareness of the threat posed by drug smuggling.
In addition, as part of its commitment to the national drugs strategy, Revenue completed its customs drug dog detector acquisition programme in 2002. The service now has nine detector dogs deployed in strategic locations throughout the country. These dogs are used at ports, airports and coastal locations.
As regards the international aspect, the Irish Customs and Excise Service is represented in the World Customs Organisation and in various EU fora relating to maritime and coastal intelligence and surveillance and takes a pro-active role in enhancing European wide operational effectiveness. This involves Ireland regularly and successfully participating in bilateral and European wide maritime drug interdiction focused activities and operations.
