Pubdate: 29 July 1999 Source: Examiner, The (Ireland) Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 1999 Contact: http://www.examiner.ie/ Author: Conor Keane GARDAI CAN NOW REACT SWIFTLY TO TIP OFFS FROM THE PUBLIC A SIGNIFICANT number of drug seizures this year have come about as a direct result of basic information supplied by members of the public. Despite this increased level of co operation from the public, gardai seized only an estimated 10% of illegal drug imports. But now, with specialised drug units in each garda division, they are able to react swiftly to tip offs and make arrests and seizures. Over pounds 250,000 in cannabis resin destined for sale in Kerry over the bank holiday weekend was seized closed to Killarney on Tuesday night because an alert member of the public saw something suspicious and contacted the gardai. Gardai are convinced that more information from the public will lead to more seizures. “We have the resources in place now all over the country to react fast when we get information,” one Garda source said. However, despite all the seizures, the market for illegal drugs does not seem to be abating. Seizures have not curtailed the supply of illegal drugs and the prices charged by pushers have not risen following significant seizures. “This means that despite the seizures we are making, an awful lot is still getting through,” the Garda source said. Gardai made a series of drug finds in a north Cork wood in June when over a few days, stashes belonging to a Cork City drugs gang was recovered. The drugs worth over pounds 1m were located in the wood and bogland near Naad after a tip off from a local person. Limerick man Patrick Scanlon, 39, of Loughall West, Foynes was charged on June 30 with possession of 179 kilos of cannabis resin in Limerick and with having the drugs for sale and supply to others. The haul of over 100 kilos of cannabis resin in the city was worth in the region of pounds 1.7 million. On June 16 two young Clare men Michael O’Halloran, 26, Sandfield Mews, Ennis and Caimin McNamara, 23, of Limerick Road, New Market on Fergus appeared in Limerick District Court in connection with the seizure of almost pounds 400,000 worth of cannabis resin. Both men were charged with possession of the drugs with intent to supply them to others. The drugs were recovered at Roulagh, Ballina, Co. Tipperary. On June 9 pounds 100,000 worth of cannabis was seized in Clondalkin. On May 22 gardai in Wexford recovered 41 kilos of cannabis resin with a street value of pounds 410,000. In Southill, in Limerick, 25 kilos of cannabis resin with a street value of pounds 250,000 was recovered. Over the first weekend in May, gardai recovered pounds 400,000 worth of drugs in two separate finds. Cork based detectives located 10 kilos of cannabis resin in a wooded area between Kilworth and Ballyporeen. The haul was valued at pounds 100,000. In Kilmainham in Dublin, gardai located drugs with a street value of pounds 300,000. The haul consisted mainly of cocaine and diamorphine. On May 7 a joint gardai and RUC operation led to the seizure of pounds 850,000 worth of drugs in Balbriggan, Dublin. Gardai in Slane, Co. Meath seized 20 kilos of cannabis resin with a street value of pounds 200,000. On April 3 15 kilos of cannabis resin was recovered in Dublin with a street value of pounds 150,000. On March 18 gardai seized over pounds 2m worth of heroin after a raid in a Dublin hotel. Over pounds 100,000 in cash was also recovered. This seizure caused major supply problems in Dublin for one particular drugs gang. On the same day pounds 100,000 worth of heroin was recovered in Lucan and 28 kilos of cannabis resin valued at pounds 280,000 was seized in Busaras in Dublin. On March 3 a 50 kilo haul of cannabis resin with a street value of pounds 500,000 was captured by gardai in Beaumont, Dublin. A pounds 150,000 shipment of 15 kilos of cannabis resin was seized at Dublin airport on February 27. On January 25 gardai in Limerick uncovered 18 kilos of cannabis resin with an estimated street value of pounds 180,000 in a military cemetery on King’s Island in the city. On January 20 38 kilos of cannabis resin with a street value of pounds 400,000 was seized on Dublin’s North Circular Road. On January 1 two kilos of cocaine was seized in Cork. It had a street value of pounds 160,000. - --- MAP posted-by: Thunder