This article is from page 18 of the 2011-01-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
MORE THAN half a million euro worth of cocaine was seized at Shannon airport last year, in 11 separate hauls, while the overall value of drugs seized more than doubled.
The cocaine hauls amounted for the bulk of drugs seizures at the airport during the entire year.
According to figures obtained by The Clare People , the value of cocaine seized was € 518,000. This compared with € 151,000 in 2009. The number of cocaine seizures al- most quadrupled in 2010, increasing from three to 11.
Overall, the value of drugs detected at the airport increased from less than € 260,000 in 2009 to more than € 570,000 last year. There were 43 drugs seizures last year, a significant increase on 19 during the previous year.
Seizures of cannabis herb increased from nine to 20, but decreased in value from € 88,000 to € 46,000. Hauls of amphetamine and cannabis resin remained on a par with the 2009 levels. There were four seizures of ecstasy last year and one seizure of MDMA – there were no seizures of either drug in 2009.
The figures also show that the number of cash seizures at Shannon last year increased from three (2009) to seven. The value of money taken in by Customs officers in 2009 was in excess of € 157,000 and amounted to almost € 270,000 last year.
Seizures of counterfeit goods, including dvds, cosmetics and jewellery, reduced in number from 74 to 40 and also decreased in value, from € 400,000 to € 39,000. There were 155 seizures of cigarettes last year, compared with 396 in 2009. However, the number of cigarettes seized was comparable in both years – 830,000 last year and 791,000 in 2009.
Twenty-one hauls of tobacco were confiscated in 2009 and this reduced to 15 last year. However, the size increased from 65 kgs to 95 kgs. Five weapons were taken in by Customs in both 2009 and last year, but their value dipped last year from € 1,035 to € 230. The value of medicines detected reduced from € 71,000 in 20098 to € 2,100 last year. There were 10 seizures in both years.
According to a spokesperson for Revenue, significant resources are put in place to detect the presence of illegal goods in the country’s airports. The drugs dog Shadow, a Labrador, which is based at Shannon, was involved in several seizures.
“The Revenue’s Customs Service is continuously engaged in the analysis and evaluation of seizure trends, routes and smuggling risks and consequential resource deployment,” said the spokesperson.