A new scanner for detecting drugs and other illegal cargo in containers had already detected a consignment of two million cigarettes before it was formally launched yesterday.
The Revenue Commissioners' €3 million mobile X-ray container scanner will be used to detect drugs; contraband such as cigarettes and alcohol; explosives and firearms; and stowaways.
It is the most powerful mobile scanner currently on the market and will be used at ferry and container ports in Dublin, Rosslare, Cork, Waterford, Drogheda and Foynes. It can scan containers, trailers and vehicles such as cars, vans and coaches. Scanning a container takes up to three minutes and a further five to 10 minutes to read the scanned images.
Frank Daly, chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, said the scanner had already paid for 15 per cent of its cost when it recently detected the haul of two million cigarettes, smuggled in a container of protective clothing. "The revenue that would have been evaded on these cigarettes was €460,000," he said.
Launching the new scanner, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he was delighted it had the facility to detect radioactive and nuclear materials. "It goes without saying that, since 9/11, security has been a priority throughout the world," he said. "Clearly maritime freight is vulnerable to the smuggling of nuclear devices or radioactive materials by terrorists."
There were 1,223 seizures of drugs at ports, airports and on the street last year with a total value of more than €37 million.
Meanwhile, The Irish Times has learned that there were no drug seizures at the State's regional airports last year.
Some 296 drug seizures were made at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports. Customs officers are stationed at these airports but do not have a permanent presence at Knock, Galway, Donegal, Sligo and Kerry. However, customs officers are present for all non-EU flights to these airports.
"Internal EU flights are manned on a risk analysis basis," a Revenue Commissioners spokesman said. Knock airport has greatly expanded its schedule in recent times and now flies to destinations such as Lanzarote, Tenerife and Majorca.
Drugs with an estimated value of €5.478 million were seized at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports last year.
Dublin airport accounted for the majority of drugs seized, with 213 seizures of drugs weighing 476 kg. These hauls had a value of more than €4.7 million.
Shay Doyle, customs enforcement manager at Dublin airport, said there had been a major increase in cocaine seizures last year. Some 40kg of cocaine was seized in 2004, compared with 53kg last year.
Earlier in the year, many seizures were made from false bottomed suitcases but Mr Doyle said there was an increase in the number of people swallowing drugs, or smuggling them in chocolate packets or cosmetic containers.
