‘Zero tolerance’ by gangs to all drug debt

Gangs are operating a zero tolerance approach to all drug debts, no matter how small, and inflicting violence including murder, according to a new report. 

Gardaí and community leaders have told the Health Research Board this is to “set an example” to communities.

Family support workers told the board researchers that debts of less than €100 were treated in the same way by gangs — by everything from warning shots to murder – as debts of over €40,000. Gardaí described the ‘dead door’ to the board — where a shot is fired through the front door or window of the home of an indebted drug user or their family as a warning to settle the debt.