DRUG SEIZURES UNDERLINE SIZE OF PROBLEM

Drug smuggling appears to be on the rise again as new gangs seek to enter
the massively profitable market, writes Jim Cusack, Security Correspondent

gardai have made seven significant drugs seizures in the past fortnight
culminating in the weekend hauls of cocaine, amphetamine sulphate and
cannabis with an estimated total street value of more than £8.5 million.

The Garda successes, however, only highlight that despite increased police
efforts and new laws, the problem of drug trafficking in this State may be
worsening again.

More than 40 people have been arrested in connection with the seizures of
heroin, cocaine, amphetamine, ecstasy and cannabis since October 22nd.
Several are in custody facing charges which could result in lengthy jail
sentences.

According to some gardai, drugs are more widely available throughout the
State than ever before.

Seizures in Limerick, Galway and Donegal in the past fortnight illustrate
the extent to which drugs are penetrating provincial centres. The £130,000
worth of cannabis and cocaine found in Galway two weeks ago was the largest
single discovery of drugs, for local use, in the city.

At about the same time, cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy with a value of up to
£50,000 was seized in Donegal. Last week, gardai in Limerick seized
£180,000 worth of cannabis.

Just over two weeks ago, 20kg of cannabis was intercepted by gardai in Co
Westmeath. It is believed the drugs were on their way to Northern Ireland.

In the same period, half a kilo of heroin, worth around £100,000, was
discovered by Welsh police as it was being smuggled onto the Holyhead Dun
Laoghaire ferry by a Dublin man. Two days later, half an ounce of uncut (or
"rock") heroin, with a value of £75,000, was found in Drimnagh.

These finds, significant in any terms on this island, were put in the shade
by the weekend seizures in Co Meath and at Dublin Airport.

The haul of 100kg of pure amphetamine sulphate, the drug known as "speed",
and 4kg of cocaine by the Garda National Drugs Squad ranks among one of the
10 largest seizures ever made in this State. This was followed by
yesterday's separate seizure of 33kg of cannabis at Dublin Airport.

In the past two weeks, gardai have seized some 65kg of cannabis with a
"wholesale" value of between £130,000 and £170,00, and an estimated final
street value of £500,000 to £600,000. Just under a kilo of heroin, with a
value of about £175,000, was found.

The haul of 4kg of cocaine with a value of up to £1 million, along with the
100kg of amphetamine, with a potential final street value of £8 million,
may have been on its way through this State to the British market.

Some of the seizures have come about as a result of cooperation between
the Garda, British and continental police forces. Cooperation between EU
police forces is improving and the Garda has two fulltime drugs liaison
officers in Europe, one in The Hague and one in Spain.

Some of the hauls have been the result of the detective work of divisional
drugs units (DDUs), which are attached to the main urban stations in the
State.

Garda sources say the seizures only underline the fact that many people are
prepared to risk lengthy jail sentences because of the potential profits
involved in supplying what appears to be an insatiable market.

Sources say it appears that a variety of criminal figures is attempting to
replace the dominant position in the drugs market which has been left
vacant by Garda successes against the gang which murdered journalist,
Veronica Guerin.

Ironically, it is possible that media reports of the massive profits made
by this gang stimulated many other minor criminals to try to fill its place.