'It is a problem in every town' in the country

The Cavan Monaghan Divisional Drugs Unit will be back in operation in a matter of weeks after a four-year hiatus. Chief Superintendent Christopher Mangan told the County Cavan Joint Policing Committee (JPC) that the recruitment process is in train and he hopes that the unit will be operational by the first week in March, if not earlier, writes Thomas Lyons.

The superintendent made the announcement after Deputy Brendan Smith (FF) had asked about the time frame for the re-establishment of the squad.
Deputy Smith said that the drugs issue was of huge concern and had transformed from being confined to the cities. “This has changed from being only an urban problem to affecting rural areas, it is a problem in every town and village in the country,” he said.
The Fianna Fáil Deputy said that he had tabled a motion in the Dáil to have additional units assigned to the Cavan Monaghan Division.
Chief Superintendent Mangan said that the exercise takes time, but that the application process has commenced. He said that the interview board was being established and that he hoped that the Divisional Drugs Unit will be in place by the first week in March “if not earlier”.
In welcoming the announcement, Deputy Smith said there is a huge task ahead of the drugs unit and he wished them success in “tackling the scourge of drugs”.
Senator Joe Reilly (FF) added his praise for the progress of the recruitment process: “This is good news as drugs are an issue that affect the whole county.”
The Cavan-Monaghan Garda division’s dedicated drugs unit was axed in January 2013 after 14 years in operation. At the time, the members of Divisional Drugs Unit, which comprised of four gardaí and one detective sergeant, were redeployed into the general force.
Last October it was flagged that the Unit would be re-established. There are only two Garda divisions in the country, Cavan/Monaghan and Laois/Offaly, without dedicated drugs unit.