Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
60. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Justice to outline the value and volume of seizures of crack-cocaine and heroin in Limerick since the conclusion of Operation Copóg; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54638/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime groups and those who fuel this very harmful and illegal trade, is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and the Government.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes all operational and investigative policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
As the Deputy will be aware, Operation Copóg ran from March 2021 to September 2022 as a joint operation between An Garda Síochána and Limerick City & County Council to disrupt and target the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the St Mary’s Park area of Limerick city.
I have been informed that in the time period from 1 October 2022 to 30 November 2023, there were 216 seizures of drugs categorised under Possession of Drugs for the purpose of sale/supply and 609 seizures categorised under Simple Possession (personal use).
This included the seizure of suspected heroin to the estimated value of €283,000 and crack cocaine to the estimated value of €27,000. Last month a single seizure of suspected crack cocaine amounted to €20,000.
Some recent successes of Garda Operation Tara, which tackles drug dealing in local areas around the country include the seizure of over €120,000 of cannabis in Drogheda on December 5th, and the seizure of approximately €105,000 worth of suspected cocaine in Kildare on November 30th. These follow the huge seizure of the MV Matthew off the Cork coast in October. This shipment originated in Latin America and was bound for various locations, both here and across Europe.
These large seizures demonstrate the close cooperation between Gardaí and partner services to interrupt the supply of illegal drugs into and throughout the country.
The Garda Commissioner has also tasked an Inspector in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug-related intimidation. There are currently thirty nominated Garda Inspectors appointed to act as liaison officers for the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme, covering each Garda Division.
I will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.3 billion in Budget 2024.
The record budgetary resources allocated to An Garda Síochána in recent years have enabled the Garda Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime, including the Armed Support Unit, GNDOCB, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
