Anti-drug blitz results in 35 arrests

IN the past three days as many as 35 suspected street drug dealers have been arrested in a Garda blitz on gangs.

Six men and one woman, all in their 20s and early 30s, were detained yesterday on drugs charges in Athlone, while 28 men have been held in west and north Dublin over the last three days. The operation has seen plain clothes officers buy drugs on the streets from suspected dealers before detectives moved in over the last week.

The areas targeted in the capital were Finglas, Blanchardstown and Cabra.

Eight men arrested in Dublin, all in their 20s, were being questioned under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Superintendent Aidan Glacken, based in Athlone, said the clampdown on suspected dealers will continue.

“This is a major blow for drug dealers operating in the area. Gardaí from Athlone district will continue to target street-level drug dealers and those who supply them,” Supt Glacken said.

The operations co-ordinated by the National Drugs Unit, supported by local drugs squads, have been ongoing for a number of months involving surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan TD said the arrests must lead to convictions “so that a strong message is sent to criminals that they cannot deal openly in a trade that is attacking the fabric of Irish society”.