Seán Crowe
Ceist:604 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress which has been made on the Government's commitments to reducing the supply of heroin and cocaine. [25509/03]
Written Answers. - Drug Seizures.
Seán Crowe
Ceist:605 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount and estimated value of heroin seized in each of the past five years and in 2003 to date; and the number of such seizures. [25510/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:606 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount and estimated value of cocaine seized in each of the past five years and in 2003 to date; and the number of such seizures. [25511/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:607 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of arrests in relation to seizures of heroin in each of the past five years; and the number of those arrests that have resulted in convictions. [25512/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:608 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of arrests in relation to seizures of cocaine in each of the past five years; and the number of those arrests that have resulted in convictions. [25513/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:609 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount and estimated value of heroin seized in each of the past five years and in 2003 to date; and the number of such seizures in the Dublin south-west area. [25514/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:610 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount and estimated value of cocaine seized in each of the past five years and in 2003 to date; and the number of seizures in the Dublin south-west area. [25515/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:611 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of arrests in relation to seizures of heroin in each of the past five years; and the number of those arrests that have resulted in convictions in the Dublin south-west area. [25516/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:612 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of arrests in relation to seizures of cocaine in each of the past five years; and the number of those arrests that have resulted in convictions in the Dublin south-west area. [25517/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:613 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount and estimated value of heroin seized in each of the past five years and 2003 to date; and the number of such seizures in the Tallaght area. [25518/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:614 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount and estimated value of cocaine seized in each of the past five years and in 2003 to date; and the number of such seizures in the Tallaght area. [25519/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:615 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of arrests in relation to seizures of heroin in each of the past five years; and the number of those arrests that have resulted in convictions in the Tallaght area. [25520/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:616 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of arrests in relation to seizures of cocaine in each of the past five years; and the number of those arrests that have resulted in convictions in the Tallaght area. [25521/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 to 616, inclusive together.
Under the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, Building on Experience, the key performance indicator in respect of supply control is to increase the volume of opiates and all other drugs seized by 25% by the end of 2004 and by 50% by the end of 2008, using the year 2000 seizures as a base. In respect of heroin and cocaine, details of the volume of drugs seized between 1997 and 2002, as well as the number of offences involving heroin and cocaine, are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Quantity |
Value |
Cocaine Cases |
|
kg |
€ |
||
|
2002* |
29.535 |
3,000,165 |
475 |
|
2001 |
5.325 |
540,913 |
300 |
|
2000 |
18.041 |
1,832,604 |
206 |
|
1999 |
85.554 |
8,690,575 |
213 |
|
1998 |
333.167 |
33,843,103 |
151 |
|
1997 |
11.02 |
1,119,411 |
157 |
|
Year |
Quantity |
EstimatedValue |
Heroin Cases |
|
kg |
€ |
||
|
2002* |
12.758 |
2,429,888 |
796 |
|
2001 |
29.527 |
5,623,712 |
802 |
|
2000 |
23.942 |
4,559,993 |
598 |
|
1999 |
16.957 |
3,229,630 |
767 |
|
1998 |
38.34 |
7,302,236 |
884 |
|
1997 |
8.211 |
1,563,867 |
599 |
Statistics are not readily available in relation to the number of specific seizures applicable to the Dublin south-west and Tallaght areas and an inordinate amount of man hours would be required to provide same. In terms of Garda divisions the south-west area covers the divisions of DMR south, which includes Tallaght, and DMR west.
Number of cases where proceedings commenced involving heroin
|
Year |
Overall Total |
DMR South |
DMR West |
|
2002* |
796 |
131 |
34 |
|
2001 |
908 |
49 |
32 |
|
2000 |
730 |
37 |
40 |
|
1999 |
887 |
24 |
51 |
|
1998 |
789 |
31 |
54 |
|
1997 |
564 |
not available |
not available |
Number of cases where proceedings commenced involving cocaine
|
Year |
Overall Total |
DMR South |
DMR West |
|
2002* |
478 |
60 |
21 |
|
2001 |
297 |
11 |
9 |
|
2000 |
180 |
8 |
6 |
|
1999 |
169 |
1 |
9 |
|
1998 |
88 |
10 |
0 |
|
1997 |
97 |
not available |
not available |
*It should be noted that the figures for 2002 are provisional and subject to change. Figures for 2003 are not readily available.
It is not possible at present to detail the number of successful convictions for drug offences within a particular period as the information transcends both law enforcement and judicial data.
Under an action in the national drugs strategy, my Department is examining options in relation to establishing a framework which would allow for the monitoring of cases involving drugs through the entire prosecution process and the assessment of the number of successful prosecutions.