Tag Archives: drugs

A HUGE increase in the detection of those selling and supplying drugs has been recorded in Clare over the course of 2020. Clare’s Joint Policing Committee (JPC) was told that there had been 115 such detections between January and December of last year, an increase of 39% on figures for 2019. Detections for possession of drugs was up by just over one-fifth, with 283 incidents last year. JPC member, Kilmurry-based Councillor Alan O’Callaghan described the increase in detections of both categories of crime, as positive. “If you think drugs aren’t a problem in every part of this county, then you’re oblivious,” he said. “The rate of drug use is simply shocking and it is good to see that the Gardaí are having more success in tackling the issue. The Gardaí have doubled the size of the drug squad over the last couple of years and it’s great to see that that’s now paying off.” The Fianna Fáil member also noted …

  REVENUE officers at Shannon Airport have seized in excess of 4.7kg of herbal cannabis as a result of routine operations. The illegal drugs have an estimated value of €94,000 and were discovered in a parcel originating from the United States of America. The parcel was declared as ‘business documents’ and was destined for an address in Dublin. Investigations are ongoing. This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on confidential phone number 1800 295 295.  

A CLARE mechanic, who gardai claim is a “major player” in the wholesale distribution of drugs in Munster, was charged in Limerick District court this week with possession of cocaine, worth almost quarter of a million euro, which had been found by gardai in a car in Limerick. Anthony Sexton, (39), was arrested last Saturday, by members of the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit (DDU), supported by the Garda Armed Support Unit (ASU). Gardai intercepted Mr Sexton driving a dark grey coloured Audi car on the R510, at Raheen, Limerick, and discovered three-and-a-half kilos of cocaine worth an estimated €247,500. The father of three, with an address at Cahaska, Corofin, appeared before Limerick District Court, charged with four offences, namely: possession of cocaine for sale or supply; possession of cocaine; possession of a flick knife; causing criminal damage to an official garda patrol jeep. Detective Garda Mark O’Sullivan, Limerick DDU, gave evidence that gardai “conducted an operation targeting drug trafficking offences” …

A QUANTITY of drugs that were on their way to Clare were seized by Revenue officers at the Dublin Mail Centre on Thursday. Officers, with the help of detector dogs, seized over 1.5kg of illegal drugs, including herbal cannabis and cannabis infused ‘jelly sweets’ with an estimated value of over €32,000. The drugs were discovered in parcels that originated in the United States and the UK and were declared as items such as ‘clothing’, ‘candle set’, ‘tea’, ‘backpack’ and ‘incense burner’. The parcels were destined for delivery to various addresses Dublin, Offaly, Kilkenny, Clare and Kildare. Investigations are ongoing. These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.

REVENUE officers seized 1.1kg of herbal cannabis at Shannon Airport on Wednesday. The smuggled drugs had an estimated value of €22,000 and were discovered concealed in large packets of sharing crisps, that were contained in a parcel that had originated in Spain and were destined for an address in Limerick City. This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.

GARDAÍ seized €1,900 of suspected drugs in Kilrush, on Tuesday, December 8. As part of an ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in West Clare, Gardaí from Kilrush executed a search warrant at a house in the Kilrush area at around 11am. During the course of the search Gardaí seized €1,500 of suspected cannabis herb and €400 of suspected benzodiazepine tablets along with a quantity of plastic bags. The suspected drugs will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. No arrests have been made but Gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry.

GARDAI seized of over €60,000 worth of suspected drugs and cash on Wednesday evening. As part of an operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs, Gardaí from the Clare Divisional Drugs Unit carried out a search of a yard in the Clarecastle area. There they seized suspected cannabis herb with a street value of €40,000 along with €17,000 cash. Follow up searches were also carried at fields in Ennis and Tiermaclane where Gardaí seized over €2,500 cash and €700 of suspected cannabis herb. All of the suspected drugs will now be sent for analysis. Two men, both aged in their 40s, were arrested and detained at Ennis and Shannon Garda Stations under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 and have since been released. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

DRUGS have been described as “a catalyst for many other crimes,” by Deputy Cathal Crowe who has called for dealers who parade their wealth around villages and towns in Clare to be tackled by the Gardaí. “They are in every town and village and a real scourge,” he told last Monday’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC). “We all know the guy who doesn’t go to work in the morning, but has a lifestyle that none of us could hope to aspire to. There are people going in and out of his house at all hours and packages are being dropped through car windows. These are the people that we want to see taken down. The trouble they are causing is untold.” Deputy Crowe added that “a mini CAB” in the county had been effective in tackling those living on the proceeds of crime. He also called for a liaison officer to be tasked with working with the council …