Gardaí dismantle drug supply network

Gardaí have dismantled a sophisticated drug supply network after a six-month undercover operation in Cavan.

The operation, code-named Nettle, targeted a number of “significant players” in the neighbouring towns of Bailieborough and Cootehill.

Nine people — six men and three women — were arrested in a dawn operation led by detective units from the Cavan/Monaghan division, in conjunction with the Garda National Drugs Unit.

Gardaí said a considerable amount of drugs and cash was seized.

The lengthy investigation was a “test purchase operation” involving the purchase of drugs by undercover officers from specified targets.

A list of key targets was drawn up following intelligence gathering on eight suspects in the area.

Garda sources described these individuals as “quite significant players”.

They said those involved were “astute” and that detectives had previously struggled to gather evidence against them.

Over a series of months a significant amount of drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy, and former head shops drugs, were purchased from these individuals.

Garda sources said these were not street dealers, but were running drug operations in the towns.

A ninth individual, a business person, was also arrested on suspicion of letting their premises to be used in the sale of drugs.

Charges of sale or supply of drugs under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act are expected to be brought.

The operation is being seen as a significant success for the gardaí given the calibre of the people arrested and the impact the investigation will have in the area.

The operation involved the dedicated Test Purchase Unit within the Garda National Drugs Unit. This unit specialises in lengthy undercover operations involving the actual purchase of drugs from identifiable people over a period of time.

Local divisional drug units use the unit’s expertise, and often their officers, who would not be known in the areas, to buy the drugs.

Samples of the drugs have been sent to the State Forensic Laboratory for analysis.

The drugs purchased included ecstasy, cannabis, and 4-MEC.

The latter is a former legal high once sold in head shops and is similar to mephe-drone, a hugely popular head shop drug.

The sale of former legal highs is big business after the effective closure of the head shop trade in Ireland.

There continues to be a big demand for the products, which are generally manufactured in China.