OFFICERS SEIZED POUNDS 24M IN SMUGGLED DRUGS

Customs officials seized drugs with a street value of over pounds 24m
smuggled into the country last year.

Tough legislation on drug trafficking is leading to an increasing levels of
success in detecting drugs, and this is having a major impact on the
activities of both national and international drug-traffickers.

Cash worth pounds 614,908 was seized under Section 38 last year.

This allows customs officials to detain money which it believes is linked to
drugs.

However traffickers continue to smuggle massive quantities of cannabis into
the country. The drug accounted for the vast majority of seizures made by
the Customs National Drugs Team during 1999. Cannabis resin to the value of
over pounds 19m was seized, along with cannabis herbals worth over
pounds136,000, in over 600 separate hauls made by officials.

In addition, over 27kgs of cocaine were also found being smuggled into the
country, with a street value of pounds 3.3m.

The figures reveal that an alarming number of ecstasy is still being
targeted at students and clubbers. A total of 61,119 tabs were detected,
with a value of over pounds 733,000.

The drug is primarily used in the 25 and under age group.

There was limited success in cracking down on heroin with only just over 1kg
being seized last year, with a street value of pounds 171,800.

Meanwhile, the total of pounds 614,908 in cash detained by customs can be
held for varying degrees of time.

The Criminal Justice Act 1994, provides for the seizure or detention of
suspected drug related cash where it is being brought in or out of the
country, if the amount is not less than pounds 5,000.

The maximum period of detention is two years, subject to legal application
for District Court orders every three months.

Forfeiture proceedings are subsequently taken in the District Court in the
name of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

If the case is successful, this money cash goes back to the Exchequer.