Illegal firearm seizures increase as drug trade grows

The number of illegal firearms seized by gardaí has begun to increase again after years of decline since the drugs trade began to contract in line with the wider economy.

The value of drugs seized on the domestic crime scene has also increased; up 78 per cent last year.

Garda sources said while it was still too soon to determine if the increases were part of a long term trend, they were not surprised by the apparent renewed activity in organised crime.

“People seem to have more money in their pockets and a small number will buy drugs; so you’d expect to see (the drugs trade) bouncing back a bit,” said one officer.

Another cautioned against “over analysing” the increase in firearms seizures.

He said while some guns associated with gangland crime and gun murders had been seized - including sub machine guns and pistols; air rifles, air pistols and CS gas accounted for a large percentage of the overall figures.

The new data on guns and drugs was revealed in the annual report for 2014 of An Garda Síochána.

Last year the force seized 698 illegally held firearms, the first increase for five years.

The largest number of illegal firearm types recovered were air rifles and air pistols, with 93 and 216 recovered respectively.

These trends were in line with previous years, with such firearms regularly accounting for almost half of the illegal guns found throughout the State each year.

There were also 100 shotguns seized and 63 stun guns. Seizures of pepper spray or CS gas, which are classified as firearms by the Garda, have continued to increase as their use internationally among security organisations grows.

There was no CS gas seized in 2011 or 2012, but this has increased each year to reach 51 in 2014, up from 19 the previous year.

There were also 40 pistols seized last year, 14 revolvers, 12 silencers and 63 stun guns.

Narcotics seizures

In the area of illicit drugs, the Garda has claimed a role in the seizure of narcotics with a combined value of €698 million. However, only a fraction of this total was destined for the Irish market and most of the total was seized by other police forces, with the Garda playing a supporting role.

Last September the Irish Naval Service seized cocaine valued at €358.75 million on the yacht Makayabella off the Cork coast. The operation involved the Garda, meaning the seizure has been included by the force in its figures for drug seizures last year.

Another seizure of cocaine valued at €210 million was intercepted off the Spanish coast by the authorities from that country and an unrelated cocaine seizure valued at €105 million was found in Portsmouth. Both international operations involved the Garda.

The value of drugs seized on the domestic drugs scene reached €57 million last year, up from €32 million in 2013.

Meanwhile, there are 205,000 legally held firearms in the State, or approximately one for every 22 people residing in the Republic.

The annual report also revealed a total of 600 organised crime gangs came to the attention of the force last year and that 9,000 missing persons investigations were conducted.

Some 549 children were removed from family units last year over fears for their safety. This was down on 758 children in 2013.