CUSTOMS WARNS THAT DRUG TRAFFICKING SET TO DOUBLE

The Customs National Drugs Team has warned that less than half of the total
amount of drugs passing through Irish waters is detected. The International
Shipmasters' Conference was told in Cork at the weekend the level of
trafficking is set to double in the next two decades.

Almost [pounds] 120 million in cannabis and cocaine has been seized off
this coast in the past five years, the team told the conference. But this
still represents only an estimated 35 per cent of the amount dispatched to
Europe from North Africa and South America.

The international trade in narcotics is estimated to be worth at least
[pounds] 175 billion sterling, and is second only to the arms industry in
terms of global scale.

Ireland holds a key strategic position on the sea route to Europe for
cocaine from South America and cannabis from North Africa and the
Caribbean, the conference was told. Since 1993, customs officers have
recorded over 6,900kg of cannabis and 630kg of cocaine off the coastline.

Among the coastal seizures were 150kg of cannabis buried at Rosscarbery, Co
Cork, in May 1993; 700kg of cannabis resin on a beach at Tragumna, Co Cork,
in June 1993; 2,000kg of cannabis taken from a yacht at Loop Head, Co
Clare, in July 1993; 600kg of cannabis found on a yacht at Ballyconneely,
Co Galway, in August 1994; and some 26kg trawled at a location south of
Cork in November and December, 1994.

In March 1995, 20kg of cocaine was washed up at Fanore Point, Co Clare;
some 210kg of cannabis was found on the Wexford seabed at Baginbun and
Carnivan Bay in September 1995; and a further 90kg was found in the same
location the following month.

In September 1996, some 610kg of cocaine was found on a converted fishing
vessel in Cork Harbour. In November 1996, some 1.77 tonnes of cannabis was
taken from a motor cruiser at Kilrush Harbour, Co Clare.

Some 65 delegates attended the conference, which was hosted by the Irish
Institute of Master Mariners and addressed by the Minister for the Marine
and Natural Resources, Dr Woods.

Checked-by: Richard Lake