N7 trap: dealers on the road to nowhere

The N7 drug route is becoming a gauntlet run, writes Jimmy Woulfe.

THE N7 between Dublin and Limerick is proving to be a perilous route for the country’s major drugs gangs.

Limerickman Patrick Forde will testify to that as he begins a 10-year prison sentence.

Forde, from Pallasgreen. was heading for the N7 from Dublin port in his lorry on December 12, 2003 when he was stopped by undercover drugs squad detectives, who were tracking a huge consignment of drugs shipped in from the continent to Dublin port.

On searching Forde’s lorry, detectives uncovered 30,397 ecstasy tablets, 17kgs of cocaine and a quantity of amphetamines. The haul had a street value of €2.3 million.

Forde was to have received €30,000 to drop off the consignment of drugs in the midlands.

But it wasn’t his first venture as a drugs mule.

He had successfully negotiated the N7 on seven previous occasions with his deliveries of death and misery.

Limerick’s main drugs gangs bring in most of their supplies from Dublin importers.

But that 120-mile N7 journey is now well staked out by garda drugs squad surveillance teams.

One of Limerick’s most serious drugs importers was recently caught red-handed when the jeep he was traveling in was stopped as it drove through a midlands town en route to Limerick.

He is now facing trial and a long sentence if convicted after a huge quantity of drugs was found in the vehicle.

He escaped the law in June 2001 when his large farm on the outskirts of the city was raided by gardaí.

Two close relatives of his were found unloading a €1m drugs consignment.

The main man escaped prosecution, but his luck now seems to have run out.

Two Englishmen also found the N7 a highway to prison recently.

They were heading from Dublin Port with a massive haul of LSD, with a street value of €650,000, some of which was destined for Limerick.

10 years ago the Limerick market was flooded with a drugs cocktail called Snowballs, made with LSD.

Many users ended up in A&E rooms with serious self-inflicted injuries after suffering hallucinations.

The two Englishmen are in jail awaiting trial.

The increase in the use of heroin is a major garda worry in Limerick, as addicts’ desperation feeds other crime.

Limerick’s main drugs gangs have built up very strong links with their Dublin counterparts to ensure the supply conveyor belt along the N7 is always working.

And, with payments of €30,000 on offer, they know there are many more Patrick Fordes prepared to run the N7 gauntlet.

Big money, big stakes.