The Tánaiste has met with a number of her European colleagues on the margins of the Justice and Home Affairs Council to discuss the current organised crime situation in Ireland and the international dimension.
The Tánaiste took the opportunity of the Council to participate in a number of bilateral meetings with European colleagues from Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands to discuss both historical levels of cooperation that have been achieved and more recent developments in this regard. The Tánaiste extended her appreciation to her European colleagues for their support and their continuing efforts in ensuring effective bilateral cooperation.
During discussions the Tánaiste assured her counterparts of the Government’s determination to do all in its power to tackle the organised crime gangs involved and to support Ireland’s police service in its efforts both here and abroad in cooperation with international law enforcement partners and was assured by her counterparts of their ongoing serious investigations.
Speaking after the meeting the Tánaiste said, ‘At a time when we enjoy greater freedoms - to travel, to communicate, to interact on a global level - we are also mindful that these freedoms can also be exploited by those who seek to undermine the safety of our communities and who show little regard for the rule of law.
It is therefore important that cooperation amongst the international communities, and between states, is promoted and deepened to ensure that the freedoms we enjoy can not be exploited by organised criminal gangs seeking to build empires or thwart our national responses. ‘
Ireland enjoys significant levels of international cooperation, none more so than that commitment and collaboration which we enjoy with our European partners and their law enforcement authorities to bring criminals who are involved in drug dealing and other international criminal activities to justice.
At European level significant strides have been made to reinforce the European response to organised crime through continuous updating of the EU legislative framework and the establishment of mechanisms facilitating cooperation between law enforcement authorities. This cooperative approach is now firmly embedded in the European Union and supported by the work of Europol, Eurojust as well as the bilateral relationships and exchanges that take place at an operational and political level. The Tánaiste added -
‘When events occur that put communities in danger and those events have international links, the international relationships in which we have invested come into sharp focus. Their value is of huge significance in responding to the threat posed and in laying the foundation for further responses.’
ENDS
Notes for Editors
The Tánaiste issued a joint statement with the Spanish Minister for the Interior, Jorge Fernández Díaz following a bilateral meeting on 10 June 2016. This statement can be accessed at http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR16000129
An Garda Síochána maintains close liaison with other law enforcement agencies throughout Europe and elsewhere, exchanging information and intelligence as appropriate. Garda Liaison officers are based in The Hague, London, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, Europol and Interpol. The Gardaí work closely with relevant law enforcement agencies including all EU agencies, the Drugs Enforcement Administration (US), Europol and Interpol.
High levels of cooperation have been maintained between law enforcement here and the states represented by the JHA colleagues with whom the Minister met. In the past significant cooperation has been carried out with these states and the assistance of Europol.
Ireland is also a founding member of the Maritime Analysis Operations Centre for Narcotics (MAOC(N) - MAOC (N) is an international intelligence led operation against drug trafficking at sea. The Centre was established pursuant to an international agreement concluded between Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Portugal, France and the United Kingdom. Ireland has two liaison officers working with MAOC(N) from the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána. .
Irish drug law enforcement authorities are utilising these partnership arrangements by continuing to actively contribute to and participate in multi-agency investigations which lead to significant drug seizures here and abroad. Some very notable examples of this include for example, Operation Valsa which led to the well publicised seizure on Ireland’s south west coast in September 2014 of cocaine with an estimated street value of over €358 million and Operation Fleece in the same year which was a strategic drugs investigation with the Garda National Drugs Unit liaising with the Marine Analysis and Operations Centre in Lisbon, and the Spanish authorities which resulted in the seizure of 600 Kgs of cocaine valued at approximately €210 million off the Spanish coast.
An Garda Síochána also assist international law enforcement agencies who are conducting investigations with suspected involvement by Irish Nationals through Mutual Assistance Agreement process in criminal matters.
The Criminal Assets Bureau liaises on an ongoing basis with its counterparts throughout Europe and worldwide in the pursuit of assets derived from criminal conduct. The Bureau is a member of the CARIN Network which is an international informal network of experts/practitioners dedicated to improving cooperation in all aspects of tackling the proceeds of crime, as well as the Asset Recovery Network established at European level.