Drug searches in Ireland fall by 7,000 amid garda staffing crisis

The Government has pledged to recruit 5,000 gardaí over five years, with the target of reaching a force of 15,000.

There were over 7,000 fewer drug searches carried out last year, compared to 2022, with the sharpest reductions in the garda southern region, figures show.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said the reduction was clearly linked to their being “less gardaí on the streets”.