Criminals are trying to use the profits from the trade in cannabis and Ecstasy to develop a market for harder drugs in Northern Ireland, the British government said today.
The Northern Ireland Office told a House of Commons committee it was concerned that gangs were trying to nurture a market for heroin and crack cocaine.
In a 20 page response to a Northern Ireland Affairs committee report on the province's drug culture, NIO minister John Spellar said there was evidence that some "organised criminals are seeking to expand the illegal drugs market in Northern Ireland but intelligence would indicate that the dealers continue to trade mainly in cannabis.
"The Police Service of Northern Ireland's Drugs Squad will continue to devote considerable resources to tackling that market to disrupt supply routes and reduce the availability of cannabis but will also monitor closely the trends in the market to ensure that Class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine do not gain a foothold in Northern Ireland."
The minister was responding to a report by the committee which contained a warning to government that it could have just three years to get its drugs strategy right in Northern Ireland.
While Mr Spellar acknowledged there had been an increase in the availability of cocaine, he said Northern Ireland was starting from a very low base.
There was "some anecdotal evidence" that crack cocaine was being used as an alternative to heroin.
However there was little evidence from police intelligence, seizures or the health service to suggest use of the drug had risen significantly.
Nevertheless Mr Spellar said the Government would not be "complacent" and would "continually seek ways to improve the range and scope of information that can be made available to all agencies so that everyone has access to accurate and up-to-date information."