Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 December 2019
279. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount and type of illegal drugs seized by An Garda Síochána in 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53254/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA core focus of the work carried out by An Garda Síochána is aimed at tackling drug distribution and organised crime. The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs remains a priority for An Garda Síochána and the other state agencies tasked with responsibilities in this regard.
Since its establishment in 2015, the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, which manages national and international drug trafficking and organised crime investigations, has continued to make significant seizures of controlled drugs and to make related arrests.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that recent intelligence-led operations have resulted in significant drugs seizures by An Garda Síochána, for example including seizure of cocaine (subject to analysis) with an estimated value of €1.4 million in Drogheda on 11 November.
Such seizures represent a major blow to criminal gangs, who planned to profit from selling these drugs. The success of this and other operations demonstrates the effectiveness of the various enforcement bodies within this State working together with their international counterparts.
The data requested by the Deputy is published in the Annual Reports of An Garda Síochána, which are available online at An Garda Síochána's website at the following link: https://www.garda.ie/en/Information-Centre/Annual-Reports/.
I can inform the Deputy that the 2018 Annual Report will be laid before the Oireachtas and published this week. Data for 2019 is not yet available.
