Major criminals targeted in drugs clampdown
A massive intelligence operation will form a central plank of the strategy as gardaí focus on six of the city’s major drug dealers with links to foreign dealers.
A dozen or so figures or gangs will also be targeted.
Investigations focusing on these figures will be prioritised to ensure early court appearances.
Chief Supt Kevin Ludlow said the new policing plan was a strategic approach to tackling crime in the city.
“One of the priority areas is tackling the issues of drugs and major crime,” he said. “Our approach is not only about tackling events but also about preventing any escalation.”
Some of the city’s major drug dealers have fled to Holland and Spain over the years, but there are about 10 who still have links with local dealers based in Cork.
“There are about 10 of them who would be pumping market with drugs through people here,” Detective Insp Tom Myers said. “It is their people here we are concentrating on.”
The CAB seized €350,000 from a dealer based north of the city just before Christmas.
Other developments planned by gardaí under the new plan include:
The deployment of an extra 14 officers to the city’s traffic corps, bringing the total compliment to 30.
More road safety roadshows in local schools.
Broadcast weekly road safety bulletins.
Upgrade and expand the city’s CCTV system.
Expand the Youth Diversion Programme.
Meanwhile, gardaí are still investigating two robberies in Cork over the weekend.
Staff at Garfield Stores on Wellington Road were threatened by two men, one of whom was wielding a hammer, on Saturday evening. Staff handed over a small amount of money.
The raiders, aged between 20 and 22 years, left on foot in the direction of MacCurtain Street.
In North Cork, gardaí believe a gang of up to six Eastern Europeans was responsible for a raid on Kade’s pub in Glenville on Saturday.
Some gang members kept the owner talking while others slipped upstairs before making off with a safe which contained a substantial amount of money. They escaped in a silver English-registered Opel Astra.
