Specialists units help Gardaí in war on drugs

Galway Gardaí have scored a number of successes in tackling the illicit drugs trade in the county in the past eight months.

The latest Garda statistics prove that the number of drugs busts has increased compared with last year. And Galway’s top Garda say the presence of specialist drugs units based in two of the county’s major towns, has helped the local war on drugs.

Chief Superintendent Tom Curley told the latest meeting of the County Galway Joint Policing Committee that there were 23 incidents of drugs for sale of supply in the first eight months of the year.

It represents an increase of 5% compared with the same period last year.

Meanwhile, those using drugs have also been targeted – the number of simple possession of illegal drugs has increased by 64% to 94 in the months to the end of August.

Chief Supt Curley said the increases in detections can be attributed to the existence of dedicated drugs units in Tuam and Ballinasloe.

A breakdown of the type of drugs seized was also presented to the meeting, and it included €41,650 worth of cocaine. This comprised two ‘nine bars’ of cocaine worth €20,000 each that were seized in two separate drugs busts including one in Ballinasloe.

There was €117,900 worth of cannabis seized during the period and the majority of it (€77,400) related to cannabis grow houses that have been put out of operation.

Some €14,660 worth of ecstasy and €3,820 worth of heroin was seized in the period January to the end of August.

Chief Superintendent Tom Curley also reported good news in terms of drink driving – the number of incidents had fallen by 2% to 119 rural drink driving incidents.

He said that some 2,462 mandatory alcohol test (MAT) checkpoints were established in Galway since January, and a total of 9,698 breath tests were performed at those checkpoints.

He said that the MAT checkpoints were working because 62 of the 119 drivers detected behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol were detected at the checkpoints.

Chief Supt Curley confirmed to County Councillor James Charity (Ind) that the checkpoints typically last for 15 to 20 minutes after which they lose their effectiveness.

There were over 300 per month, and Gardaí also ‘bagged’ drivers suspected of drink driving if they have been pulled over as a result of a faulty headlight or some other reason, he said.

There were four incidents of drug driving, down from six recorded in the corresponding period last year.