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03/09/2009
Gardaí Praised Over Drug Haul
Fine Gael has praised the Gardaí after a major drug haul in Dublin and Roscommon yesterday, in which over €2 million of drugs were seized.
Some 11 people were arrest during the early morning raids, which turned up almost 500kilos of cannabis.
Two men apprehended have since been charged and will appear before Ballinasloe District Court at 10.30am this morning.
Gardai today put on display the Cannabis Resin (pictured) seized in yesterday's operation in Rathcoole, Dublin, while in a follow-up operation yesterday almost €170,000 worth of cigarettes with a potential loss of gang revenue of €49,000 were seized, along with €100,000 in cash.
It is believed a significant proportion of the drugs seized had been earmarked for illegal selling at the Electric Picnic music festival, which begins this weekend.
Fine Gael Justice Spokesman Charlie Flanagan praised Gardaí on the "significant" drug seizures, but said it is still far too easy to smuggle drugs into the country.
"I congratulate the Gardaí on a job well done. However, their success confirms that criminal gangs were able to import cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis into this country with ease," Mr Flannigan said.
He added: "Gangland criminals are able to import drugs into Ireland with ease. Shipments arrive through small airports, which rarely see a Customs officer due to under-resourcing; via the vastly under-patrolled coastline, which is guarded by just one patrol boat; or through our ports, all of which share a single X-ray container scanner between them."
Mr Flanagan went on to say that if the Government was serious about preventing drugs from reaching the streets, it needed to focus attention and resources on the Customs service. "This has been disgracefully neglected," he said.
(DW/BMcC)
Some 11 people were arrest during the early morning raids, which turned up almost 500kilos of cannabis.
Two men apprehended have since been charged and will appear before Ballinasloe District Court at 10.30am this morning.
Gardai today put on display the Cannabis Resin (pictured) seized in yesterday's operation in Rathcoole, Dublin, while in a follow-up operation yesterday almost €170,000 worth of cigarettes with a potential loss of gang revenue of €49,000 were seized, along with €100,000 in cash.
It is believed a significant proportion of the drugs seized had been earmarked for illegal selling at the Electric Picnic music festival, which begins this weekend.
Fine Gael Justice Spokesman Charlie Flanagan praised Gardaí on the "significant" drug seizures, but said it is still far too easy to smuggle drugs into the country.
"I congratulate the Gardaí on a job well done. However, their success confirms that criminal gangs were able to import cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis into this country with ease," Mr Flannigan said.
He added: "Gangland criminals are able to import drugs into Ireland with ease. Shipments arrive through small airports, which rarely see a Customs officer due to under-resourcing; via the vastly under-patrolled coastline, which is guarded by just one patrol boat; or through our ports, all of which share a single X-ray container scanner between them."
Mr Flanagan went on to say that if the Government was serious about preventing drugs from reaching the streets, it needed to focus attention and resources on the Customs service. "This has been disgracefully neglected," he said.
(DW/BMcC)
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