Dublin Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Lessons to be Learnt from West Dublin €11m Drugs Seizure - Gallagher

Published: 26 October, 2006

IN WELCOMING the seizure of €11m worth of heroin and cannabis in the Clondalkin area of Dublin West, Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher said that significant lessons should be learnt

Cllr Gallagher said "This is a massive seizure that would have been used to poison communities across Dublin West and I congratulate the Gardaí on their success. The seizure highlights a number of issues and significant lessons should be learnt. The first is that while cocaine is now the number one drug of choice, heroin remains a massive problem, particularly in working class communities. Recent cuts to the emerging needs fund of the National Drug Strategy must be reversed. International figures argue that drugs seizures account for approximately only 10% of drugs available. Given this seizure rate we need to be realistic and admit that we will never win the war on drugs by enforcement alone. Money needs to be invested into education and social infrastructure that lead to initial use of drugs.

"I am also aware that the Local Drug Task Force in Clondalkin has recently launched a campaign similar to the Dial To Stop Drug Dealing which has been highly-successful in Dublin 15. I would encourage Minister Ahern to ensure that funding is put in place to allow this campaign to operate across the State. This campaign has allowed ordinary people to play their part in fighting drug dealers, in the comfort of knowing that the information they provide is entirely confidential.

"Another key lesson is that Gardaí operations, such as Operation Anvil needed to be fully resourced. Currently these are temporary operations, without core funding and therefore, there is instability at how the limited resources can be used and how long particular surveillance can last. In addition to this we need the Government to provide the additional Gardaí promised in the Programme for Government. In Dublin 15 we only have a third of the number of Gardaí compared to Limerick, despite having a bigger population. Questions also need to be asked of how the two dealers were able to abscond and avoid arrest. While the Gardaí may catch the two men, a conviction would have been much easier if they were caught red-handed. If it was a shortage of Gardaí that led to this escape, then Minister McDowell must be held accountable."