Galway targeted by Lithuanian heroin dealers

At least 10 people are expected before the courts over the next few weeks as part of a Garda operation targeting a ruthless Lithuanian crime gang that has been bringing heroin into the city since last September.

Operation ‘Sandman’ – spearheaded by the Galway Divisional Drugs Unit – has led to the interception of a number of heroin deliveries being brought into the city from Dublin by ‘mule’ couriers.

Gardai now estimate that there are between 80 and 100 heroin addicts in the city area, with possibly another 700 to 800 ‘dabblers’ in the lethal drug – all potential addicts into the future.

“Since last September, we have been tracking the activities of a Dublin based gang of Lithuanian origin, who have been involved in the supply of heroin into the city.

“There is a direct link between increased heroin usage and crime – we are devoting a lot of resources to this and several arrests have already been made,” said a Garda spokesman.

See the full story on the Dublin-based gang in this week’s Galway City Tribune