National Policing Plan 2023 continued to give effect to priorities identified in the 2022-2024 Strategy Statement including: strengthening community partnerships; proactively preventing, disrupting and detecting crime; supporting victims; protecting the security of the State; and supporting sustainable change and innovation. An Garda Síochána continued to support victims of crime through initiatives such as the Drug Related Intimidation Reporting Programme and the Domestic Abuse Risk Evaluation Tool. The organisation continues to work with community partners to improve engagement with diverse communities and to develop training to support victims of hate crime. Garda divisions are proactively engaged in partnerships to address community concerns through progression of the local community safety partnership pilots in three divisions. While a majority of the plan was completed, several targets on the National Policing Plan 2023 were impacted by resourcing constraints and external dependencies.

P.8 National policing - Illicit drugs, cash and firearms seized by GNDOCB: March 2015 - December 2023

In September, An Garda Síochána, along with the Customs Revenue Service and the Irish Navy as part of the Joint Agency Task Force supported by Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre - Narcotics (MAOC-N) and the Irish Army Ranger Wing, conducted a maritime intervention operation off the coast of Ireland on a cargo vessel, the MV Matthew, which had arrived at the Irish coast from South America. This operation resulted in the seizure of 2.2 tonnes of cocaine aboard the cargo ship and the arrest and charging of eight people with drug trafficking and organised crime offences. This was the largest seizure of cocaine in this jurisdiction and dealt a significant blow to international cocaine trafficking.

P. 59 Controlled Drugs Co-ordination Office (CDCO) - In 2023, 22,022 drugs cases were submitted to CDCO for destruction and 15,960kg of drugs were destroyed. 

P.69 Detected Sale and Supply of Drugs - Incidents of Sale and Supply of Drugs Marked as Detected* 2019-2021 average: 369/month 2022-2023 average: 371/month Difference between the 2022 and 2023 results: +415 (+10%)...

P.72 Drug Seizures 2023 (Garda Only) - includes quantities of drugs tabulated in the report table are provided by Forensic Science Ireland on the basis of records maintained by the laboratory relating to quantities of drugs analysed at the laboratory.