Regional drugs unit ‘effectively disbanded’ and members redeployed

GARDAÍ yesterday claimed a regional drugs unit had been effectively disbanded after its members were told they were going to be redeployed.

The six members of the Waterford District Drugs Unit one of the most successful units in the country were given the shock news suddenly on Monday evening. Gardaí said members of the unit were not given any reasons for the decision.

"Members of the unit are gutted and their families shattered," said one garda source.

"This is a good unit the figures show that. Now the unit is being broken up. What people are asking is why? No reason has been given."

Separate garda sources yesterday said they could see no reasons connected to the work of the unit that would cause the decision.

"This is an extraordinary development. The last time a unit was disbanded was when the Anti-Racketeering Squad was disbanded in the 1990s over internal wrangling," said one garda. Another garda said: "it makes no sense to get rid of an entire unit people with eight and 12 years' experience, who have considerable experience, and success."

Figures from the 2002 Garda Annual Report show:

There were 950 drug offences noted or detected in the Waterford/Kilkenny garda division the highest in the country.

905 people are to be prosecuted for drug offences again the highest in the country.

655 prosecutions commenced in 2002 the fourth-highest in the country.

Garda sources said there had been no fall-off in work rate in the unit in 2003. "This cannot be the reason why all the members of the unit are being removed," said a garda.

Concern has been expressed regarding the impact this may have on garda drug effectiveness in the area.

It's understood the six members will be reassigned to other duties and that other gardaí will fill the positions in the unit. Garda sources have commented on poor working relationships within the division in recent years. There are a number of court cases, internal inquiries and criminal investigations regarding gardaí in the division underway.

The outgoing unit has been requested to prepare any remaining paperwork and files and hand over all documentation to senior staff.

A garda spokesman said the unit was not being disbanded. "Garda management have decided to rotate the personnel of the Waterford District Drug Unit.

"It is part of an established rotation policy. Gardaí will continue to provide a dedicated service to the people of Waterford."