The value of illicit drugs seized in the State reached almost €100 million last year, new Garda figures reveal.
The Garda annual report also shows that, contrary to widely-held perceptions, the value of cocaine seizures decreased last year while the value of heroin seized increased fourfold to almost €26 million.
Garda sources said the sharp rise in the amount of heroin being offered for sale was directly related to the much larger opium crops in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban.
Overall headline, or serious, crime increased by 1.4 per cent, with detection rates increasing by 5 per cent to 40 per cent.
The Garda report, which was published by the Department of Justice, also shows the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) collected just over €19 million in taxes from criminals on revenue judged to be the proceeds of crime.
It secured interim, or short-term, freezing orders from the High Court to the value of almost €3.5 million.
Further long-term freezing orders, known as interlocutory orders, were granted by the court in respect of assets and cash to the value of €5 million.
Assets to the value of almost €2 million were realised by Cab via receivership orders granted by the High Court.
Social welfare savings achieved, overpayments identified and monies clawed back reached almost €880,000.
All of the sums realised and the value of orders granted were broadly in line with recent years.
The bureau's first action under new "unjust enrichment" legislation commenced during the year. A Section 16B order was granted to Cab by the High Court last July in respect of the contentiously rezoned Jackson Way lands in Carrickmines, south Dublin.
When that €53 million order is taken into account, the turnover of Cab last year greatly exceeded any previous year.
Actions against gangland criminals remained at the same levels as recent years.
Garda firearms seizures were also broadly in line with recent years.
There were 231 shotguns seized along with 356 airguns or pistols, 125 rifles, 82 revolvers, 82 replica guns and 24 stun guns.
There were a smaller number of other weapon types seized including spear guns and crossbows.
The seizure of drugs in the State last year remained at the near €100 million levels recorded in the past two years.
Once again, cannabis resin accounted for about half of the total value of drugs seized, with €48.7 million worth of the drug confiscated last year.
The next most frequently seized drug was heroin, of which €25.6 million was found. This represents a fourfold increase on the €6.4 million seized the previous year.
The value of cocaine seized was €13.3 million last year, down from €16 million.
Garda sources said that the drop in cocaine seizures reflected the constantly varying levels of success with large drug seizures rather than any fall-off in the popularity of the drug.
About €580,000 of cannabis herb was seized while Ecstasy seizures, continuing a sharp decline in the drug's popularity, reached just €200,000.
Amphetamines valued at €600,000 were seized while the value of other minor drugs types seized reached an estimated €300,000.
The annual report also reveals 100 members of the force were in breach of Garda disciplinary regulations last year.
Six were dismissed while the remaining 94 faced a variety of sanctions including reprimands and fines totalling €40,395.
