Garda concerns despite fall in ‘drug mule’ smuggling

THE number of so-called “drug mules” attempting to smuggle drugs in through the country’s airports fell last year, although some people are still caught carrying as much as 1kg of cocaine in their system.

New figures from the Garda Drug Unit in Ballymun showed that last year, 47 people tried to smuggle drugs in through airports for sale and supply. Of that figure, 36 drug mules were caught at Dublin Airport in operations carried out jointly by gardaí and the Customs Service.

Sergeant Martin Halpin of the Drugs Unit in Ballymun said in 2009 there were 13 “swallowers” apprehended, with the individuals having swallowed pellets of drugs in an attempt to bypass airport security. In the most recent case a foreign national who travelled to Ireland from Brazil, via Lisbon, was caught with 67 pellets of cocaine in his system. He had to be monitored in the Beaumont Hospital over the Christmas period.

In another 23 cases at Dublin Airport last year drugs were found in clothing or luggage. Gardaí stressed, however, there were numerous other cases throughout the year of people – mostly Irish nationals – attempting to bring back small supplies of drugs for personal use, but not for sale and supply. In the latter cases, cocaine was the drug being smuggled in 16 cases, while cannabis herb was the drug in 14 cases and a mix of resin and heroin accounting for six cases. Men were the drug mules in 32 of the 36 cases at Dublin Airport, and many were non-Irish nationals entering Ireland from hubs around Europe.

According to Sgt Halpin, typically those people smuggling the drugs were poor people who knew very little about the larger drug operation and even who they were working for. In many cases they are simply provided with a phone number, often linked to a phone outside the country, and told to ring it on arrival. Often they receive nominal amounts, such as €2,000 plus expenses, for carrying the drugs. Those caught smuggling drugs into Ireland through airports and other entry points can face up to 10 years in jail, although those who cooperate with Garda investigations can receive sentences of six years.

The number of drug mules has fallen, however. The figure nationally for 2008 was 69, whereas last year it fell to 47, and the number of people caught at Dublin Airport fell from 51 in 2008 to 36 last year.

However, there is still concern over the number of people swallowing drugs to bring them into the country. Sgt Halpin said in some cases people can have as many as 100 pellets, each containing up to 12g of cocaine, in their system. The cocaine in the pellets can be 80% to 90% pure. Some people may have up to 1kg of cocaine in their body, which, when mixed, can be worth up to €70,000.