Cocaine seizure - No room for complacency over drugs

The seizure of 1.5 tonnes of cocaine off the south-west coast in the early hours of yesterday morning was the largest drugs shipment ever intercepted by Irish authorities.

The operation, which was conducted by a combined force of Garda, Customs and Naval Service, highlights the growing drug problems confronting this country.

While those involved in the seizure can take satisfaction for a job well done, people should realise that drug seizures normally represent only a proportion of the drug being imported. Ireland ranks fourth highest in Europe for people who have used cocaine at some stage of their lives. The report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) indicates that cocaine use is more common among young adults. This country actually ranks third in cocaine use among the younger adults in the 14 to 24 age group. The number of cocaine seizures in this country almost trebled from 2003 to 2006.

The prevalence of the drug can be gauged from a combination of indicators: the level of seizures, the price of the drug on the streets, and the number of people presenting themselves for drug treatment. All the indicators point to escalating problems with cocaine.

Seizures are dramatically up, especially with yesterday’s seizure, and the price has been falling, while the number of people presenting for treatment jumped from 81 in 2001 to 770 in 2007. This amounted to over a ninefold increase.

The dangers of the drug were highlighted by 34 cocaine-related deaths in 2005.

The EMCDDA report further emphasises that a heroin crisis is threatening. Seizures of heroin passing through Turkey, which is the main supply route into Europe, have doubled in the past three years.

There has also been a distinct rise in the number of new heroin addicts seeking treatment. There were 1,032 new cases during 2007.

Moreover, there has been a rise in heroin seizures. Those almost trebled between 2005 and 2006, with amounts seized rising from 33kg to 129kg.

It is a problem which has such dangerous ramifications that it needs to be closely monitored.

EU drug authorities are particularly concerned about an increase in home-grown herbal cannabis throughout Europe. It has been replacing cannabis resin, which usually came from Morocco.

The homegrown drugs are more potent and controlling their production is more difficult and challenging. Intercepting supplies is more difficult, because there is no cross-border trafficking involved. Production sites are closer to the consumer and the drug is, therefore, easier to conceal.

The latest seizure leaves no room for complacency. The deadly scale of the problem is highlighted by the National Drug-Related Deaths Index which notes that there have 2,442 deaths related directly or indirectly to illegal drug use between 1998 and 2005.