Rise in bodily drug detections

Local gardaí are encountering situations more often where dealers and addicts are resorting to desperate measures to conceal what they're carrying and avoid detection.

Cases of drugs being swallowed or inserted in bodily orifices are on the rise, The Anglo-Celt can reveal, with members of the local force utilising the full extent of legal powers available to them to detain prisoners suspected of concealing drugs internally for longer periods.

One recent arrest involved a male caught in a squatting position in broad daylight in a busy car park before officers pounced.

Medical intervention has also been sought on more than one occasion where the safety of a person taken into custody was considered to be at risk given the substance ingested.

The revelation comes off the back of the release of drug detection figures the Cavan District.They revealed that cases of sale and supply of drugs more than trebled in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. They went from five to 16 detections; while the numbers of people found in possession of illegal drugs (simple possessions) are up by more than 40%, from 39 to 55 cases.

“Over 90% of detections end up as prosecutions and the courts,” Superintendent for the Cavan District, James Coen, told a recent virtual meeting of the Cavan Joint Policing Committee JPC.

“It is not that there has been a big increase in [drug] activities but there has been a big increase in our own activities targetting. We are giving a commitment to the JPC that we will continue that,” said the senior district officer.

Drug driving

The second quarter of 2020, April to June, partially covers a period when the country was in lockdown and Supt Coen said, worryingly, there had been a spike in the number of motorists driving under the influence of drugs.

Between April and June, 2020, thirty drivers tested positive for drugs, compared to just 12 in the same period last year, up 150%.

He told the meeting that the Roads Policing and newly formed District Drug units in Cavan Town had been “very proactive” in making such detections.

“It is done on a very targetted approach, and it is intelligence led. There is a message we want to send out to persons that it is very irresponsible to drink and drive, but equally to drive whilst under the influence of drugs,” said Supt Coen.

Bailieborough District

The figures for the Bailieborough district were less encouraging, but Superintendent Gordon Englishby spoke frankly of the challenges faced, particularly as a result of members moving to the newly-established Divisional Protective Services (DPS) and Armed Support Units (ASUs).

Five people previously serving in Bailieborough have been redeployed to ASU training; while four more have been reassigned to the DPS.

“That has led to a deficit. I'm at a significant loss man power wise. If you want to see results, you need boots on the ground,” Supt Englishby put it bluntly.

“Unfortunately I haven't had the resources some of the other divisions have had. I haven't been able to establish my own independent drugs unit within the district. It's something I'm working on, it's definitely a beneficial thing if each district had their own,” he further told the meeting.

There were no detections for drugs for sale or supply in the Bailieborough District during the first six months of this year. There were, however, 21 detections for simple possession on a par with the same period last year and seven detections for drug driving, up two on 2019.

Supt Englishby informed the meeting that he has requested more manpower for Bailieborough from Chief Superintendent Aiden Glacken, who now has remit for Cavan-Monaghan following the retirement of John O'Reilly.

“I gave him a very comprehensive business case for more [members] and hopefully it will be looked upon favourably by our HR section,” stated Supt Englishby.

Ashamed

Earlier that same meeting, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris gave strong opinion on illegal drug use, saying those involved in the activity should be ashamed for the devastation their actions cause.

“Taking drugs should be a cause of shame. You're wreaking havoc not just on your neighbours, near and far, but also impacting very vulnerable societies elsewhere in the world. That's very clear when you see what's happening in Central America, or what's happening elsewhere in the world where opiates are being produced. It is always accompanied with issues around poverty, the devastation of those communities, and great violence.

“So it is a matter of shame for any individual who is taking drugs. I believe enforcement is important, but also education. It is included in our national strategy, but I'm not sure that message hits home as hard as it should be.”

New HQ for Bailieborough

Separately, the same meeting was told, after a question put by Aontú's Sarah O'Reilly, that contracts for the long-awaited new station in Bailieborough would be signed towards the end of year, with a view to starting construction at the former National Irish Bank on Main Street in early 2021.

“The OPW advises that contracts should be signed by Q4 for this year, and construction starting by Q1 next year. Plans were originally that it would be a two year project, so 2022 I'd imagine before we're occupying, all going to plan,” stated Supt Englishby.

Comm Harris further assured that the new operating model adopted by An Garda Síochána nationally would “not impede” the project pressing ahead.