DRUGS SEIZURES COULD BE TIP OF ICEBERG

THE underworld market for illicit narcotics in Ireland remains buoyant,
despite many recent garda successes against major drug operators like John
Gilligan.

And seizures over the past 18 months may not have had a significant impact
on street supply lines.

"A great demand exists for these drugs and where there's a demand, there'll
be an attempt made to supply," said Detective Superintendent Tim
O'Callaghan of Cork drug squad.

He agreed generally that the drug market remains strong. A network of
criminal gangs, with close links built up since the late 1970s, has been
operating between Dublin and Cork and is largely controlling the illicit
drug trade in Ireland.

Links between the gangs have apparently been fortified as the criminals
battle back against the increased pressure, and resources, of the gardai.

The gangs are reported to regularly co-finance multi-million pound drug deals.

This would involve importing cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin into the
country through well-established channels and they then split the risks and
profits between them.

"The way they enter into these deals is basically like that of a normal
business consortium," said Det Supt O'Callaghan.

One report yesterday named five Cork men as being among the country's
leading drug dealers.

Four of the men are still based in the country while one is thought to be
in hiding in Holland or Spain.

One of the men is an ex-priest, in his late 50s, who is reported to enjoy a
lavish lifestyle in County Cork.

There are now fears that the high profile drug seizures over the past 18
months may not have had a significant impact on street supply lines.

The Cork and Dublin drug squads and the National Drug Unit had a banner
year in 1997, seizing narcotics with a total estimated value in the region
of £30 million last year.

But in the first two months of this year, yet another £15 million worth of
drugs have been seized.

This is giving rise to the suggestion that garda operations may have merely
rippled the surface of an enormous drug pool.

International reports, which were prepared by Interpol and other agencies,
would support this thinking.

It is generally estimated that drugs seized globally amount to less than 10
per cent of the overall trade.

And recent figures released in America claim the international drugs trade
is now bigger than the international car trade.