Gardai crackdown sees 69 drug seizures in county

Martin Shannon

A Kingscourt councillor’s calls for the reinstatement of a drugs unit were rejected by the Chief Superintendant who claimed gardaí resources were adequate to tackle the county’s drugs problem.
A report by Chief Superintendent Jim Sheridan to the recent meeting of Cavan Joint Policing Committee showed that illegal drugs seizures are continuing with 69 cases detected so far this year in the county.
Of these there were 28 cases of possession in Cavan Garda District and 24 in Bailieborough; 10 cases of possession of drugs for the purpose of sale and supply in Cavan district and four in Bailieborough; and two cases of cultivation in Cavan and one in Bailieborough.
Cllr Clifford Kelly asked that once again there should be a dedicated drugs task force in the Gardaí for Cavan/Monaghan.
“At present these criminals who are selling drugs are roaming free and it needs to be acted on immediately,” said Cllr Kelly. “Resources may be a major issue but the future of our young people is a major issue too. The onus is on us to protect young people and not house the criminals selling such drugs.”
Chief Superintendent Sheridan said there were a number of covert Garda operations going on at present and he is confident that those will be successful. He added that he is satisfied the resources are in place at present.