Galway City Gardaí in double drugs swoop

TWO youths arrested in relation to the latest drugs and cash haul in the east side of the city last week have been released from custody with a file being prepared for forwarding to the DPP – the Galway City Tribune has learned that they are students residing in the Glasan complex on the Ballybane Road

Members of the Galway Garda Divisional Drugs Unit seized a total of €85,000 worth of drugs and cash after searching the accommodation under warrant – a third student is also understood to have been questioned by Gardaí on the evening of the arrest.

Cocaine made up the biggest part of the haul – €53,475 – while €25,000 in cash was also seized in the operation which took place shortly after 8pm on Tuesday last.

A further €4,200 worth of MMDA (ecstasy or molly) was also seized as well as €2,900 worth of cannabis herb – all of the drugs have been sent to Dublin for forensic and laboratory analysis.

Detective Superintendent Shane Cummins told the Galway City Tribune that the latest find was a ‘timely reminder’ of the availability and supply of illegal drugs among members of the student population in Galway city.

“These are people who would not have been previously involved in criminality but who now find themselves caught up in a very serious situation in relation to the procurement, sale and supply of illegal drugs.

“We are strongly advising students – and indeed all young people – not to get caught up in this network of illegal drugs usage, sale and supply. Young people can be sucked into a very dangerous world involving serious criminals.

“They can also end up themselves with a criminal record which can have major implications for their future careers. Stay clear of any such activity is our strong advice,” said Det. Supt. Cummins.

Last November, several Garda and Customs units, targeted houses in the Castle Park and Radharc na Gréine estates, seizing cash and drugs as well as freezing a bank account.

At the time, Garda sources said that the total value of seizures and the bank freezes – as well as previous drugs seizures in the east side of the city – was in the region of €200,000. A 191 Audi car worth close to €50,000 was also seized in the Limerick in relation to the Galway finds.

Last  week’s seizures at the Glasan Student Village on the Ballybane Road are part of Operation Tara which was launched as part of the Garda anti-drugs strategy by Commissioner Drew Harris last July.

The aim of the strategy is to ‘dismantle and prosecute drugs trafficking networks at all levels –– international,national and local – involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of illegal drugs.