THE VALUE of illicit drugs seized by gardaí last year exceeded €200 million. The total value of main drug types seized last year was €212.3 million, compared with €167.5 million in 2007.
The seizures in both years are well ahead of trends in the previous five years, when drugs valued at between €80 million and just over €100 million were seized annually.
There were increases in value of almost all drug types seized in 2008, with heroin and cocaine showing strong gains.
The combined value of all cocaine seized by gardaí in 2008 was €131.7 million, by far the biggest of any drug type. This compares with €123.4 million for cocaine seizures in 2007.
The annual 2008 figure includes the haul of about 1.5 tonnes found on a boat off the Cork coast in November.
While the Cork seizure was by far the biggest of any drug type last year, a similar seizure was made in 2007, also in the waters off Cork.
It means the inclusion of the massive November haul, which was destined for Britain, does not skew the comparable annual drug seizure figures for the past two years.
Following cocaine, combined heroin seizures were worth more in value than any other drug type during last year, when €40.2 million worth of the drug was found by gardaí. This compares with €29.7 million in 2007.
It is believed last year was the first time heroin seizures passed the €40 million mark.
Cannabis in various forms - including plants, herb and resin - with a combined value of €38.4 million was seized during last year, up from €10.5 million in 2007.
Ecstasy seizures were down from €2.88 million in 2007 to €1.99 million last year. Demand for the drug is only a fraction of what it was in the early part of the decade.
The drug seizure figures for 2008 have been compiled by An Garda Síochána. They are provisional and may change.
Garda sources said while the record seizures reveal a continued strong demand for drugs in the Republic, the increases also suggest the force is enjoying more success than ever against drugs gangs.
The Garda figures do not include drug seizures made by Revenue's Customs and Excise service, which reached about €30 million last year, mainly at airports and ports.
Some of Revenue's seizures were made outside ports of entry after drugs were allowed to travel on to their delivery destinations while under surveillance by gardaí and Customs officials.
Excluding the 1.5 tonnes of cocaine found in Cork, most of the drugs seized by gardaí were found in a large number of search operations.
These typically resulted in quantities of drugs valued at between several hundred thousand euros and one or two million euros being found. However, in relation to the heroin trade, seizures tended to be fewer and larger.
This indicates that a small number of well-organised gangs are running the lucrative heroin trade, while the cocaine and cannabis trade is more fractured.
For example, five heroin seizures during the year account for just over half of all heroin seized in the State last year.
In January, gardaí found heroin valued at €7 million in Palmerstown, Dublin.
In June, some €4 million worth of the drug was found in Clondalkin, Dublin. In July, heroin valued at €4 million was found in a car near the M50.
In October, €2.4 million worth of the drug was found in Templeogue, Dublin.
Last month €6 million worth was found in two Dutch trucks in Dublin Port.
Most of the heroin seized here originates in Afghanistan. It is imported to Ireland via mainland Europe, mainly Spain and the Netherlands.
Most of the cocaine originates in Colombia and other Latin American countries. It usually enters the State via southern Spain, to where it is shipped often via west Africa. Cannabis is grown across the world with large-scale production in Morocco, Lebanon and Pakistan.