Covid-19 restrictions see Galway City crime levels continue to fall

Crime in the city continued to fall in the first two months of 2021, with detection of drug offences and property crime both down as people stay home under Covid restrictions.

At a meeting of Galway City Joint Policing Committee this week, it was revealed that arrests for the sale or supply of drugs and simple possession fell in January and February by 16 and 18 per cent respectively.

Gardaí seized no ecstasy for the first two months of the year, with cocaine by far the most common seizure – amounts valued at €126,190 were taken off the streets. Just over €50,000-worth of cannabis was seized, as was heroin to the value of €2,140.

Chief Superintendent Tom Curley told members of the JPC that officers from both the Drugs Unit and regular uniformed Gardaí were ‘working very hard’ to detect drugs circulating in the community.

“Salthill Unit Gardaí have had a lot of success in that area regarding drug detection. We’re not relying on any specific unit alone to engage in detection.

Cllr Alan Cheevers (FF) said good work had been done over the past year on drug-related crime but said there was more to do.

“We can see in Ballybane over the last number of months that there has been Gardaí on the beat, but there is a lot more work to be done in the drugs area.

“Since the last JPC, a number of college students and secondary school students have been targeted by crime gangs for the use of their bank accounts – using them as money mules,” said Cllr Cheevers, referring to other areas, before asking if there were reports of such incidences in Galway City.

Chief Supt Curley said he was aware of ‘rumours’ relating to money mules but as yet, no cases had been reported in Galway.
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