An estimated 97% of heroin being trafficked into Ireland is getting through undetected, according to a major report by the United Nations.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that 958kg of pure heroin is imported into the country, on average, every year.
It said only 27.5kg (3%), on average, is seized, that 931kg is consumed and heroin gangs are earning an estimated €600m a year from the trade.
A leading Irish expert said the research had “profound implications” for drug laws, but didn’t think the figures were quite as high as stated.
Johnny Connolly said Ireland’s seizure rate was closer to 4%-5%, that around 550kg-660kg of pure heroin was consumed here and that profit levels were about half the UN estimate of €600m.
Senior gardaí said there was there was “no way” of knowing how much heroin was coming in or what percentage they seized — and completely rejected the profit estimates.
The study, ‘Drug Money: The Illicit Proceeds of Opiates trafficked on the Balkan Route’, is one of the first of its type.
Source: Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner, 23/02/16
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