Smuggling prevention measures in shambolic state, claims FG

DRUG smuggling prevention measures at ports and airports are in a “shambolic state” despite Government assurances of further resources and security measures.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan said airport security is a shambles, and that he hoped an additional Customs & Excise cutter vessel and portable X-ray scanner, promised by the Government in February, would materialise.

“In February, then minister for finance Brian Cowen announced the Government had ordered an additional cutter vessel to patrol the Irish coastline, and an x-ray scanner for the ports. We need to know when they will arrive,” Mr Flanagan said.

Presently, only one customs boat patrols the entire coastline, while a single portable scanner, credited with detecting large seizures of drugs, is shared between ports in Dublin, Rosslare, Waterford, Cork, Drogheda and Foynes.

Mr Flanagan said this was evidence of a less than searching regime, and that the scanner was a “very lonely piece of equipment”.

It is understood criminal gangs may know where the scanner is from one day to the next, which allows them to avoid it.

“These are not just rumours. Senior gardaí believe gangs wait for the scanner to move, then contact their couriers and direct them to an appropriate port,” said Mr Flanagan.

As well as this, large numbers of unchecked private airports and landing strips, for which the Irish Aviation Authority takes no responsibility, are also suspected to be easy targets for drug smugglers as they have minimal security.

In 2006, following the seizure of €10 million worth of heroin on a flight which had originated at Weston airport in Co Kildare, Labour’s Joan Burton called for the introduction of permanent customs and security checks at small airports.

At the time, the Government said it would monitor licenses and customs checks, but according to Mr Flanagan security at these airports is still almost nonexistent.

“There are limited checks at regional airports like Waterford, Knock and Galway and a plethora of these private airports may never be inspected,” Mr Flanagan said.

Twenty-seven small unregulated airports are dotted around the country.

According to the Government’s Revenue Statement of Strategy 2008-2010, a second customs vessel will be brought into service next year, and an additional x-ray container scanner is also to come on stream.