§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on smuggling by paramilitary organisations. [146308]
§ Jane KennedyThere is no doubt that paramilitary organisations continue to engage in organised criminality including smuggling.
While cross-border co-operation between law enforcement agencies is already very good, the Government are fully committed to working with the Government in the Irish Republic to further improve that collaboration by developing strategies and structures to enable law enforcement agencies to maximise their effectiveness against the organised criminals who use the border to smuggle.
I pay tribute to the activity of law enforcement agencies against the smugglers which has resulted in unprecedented successes against illegal drug importation and a second year of growth in the levels of legitimate deliveries of road fuel oils into Northern Ireland, after five years of decline.