The scourge of drug dealing - Citizens’ duty

If anyone imagines that serious drug crime happens in other countries but not here, the latest Garda operation should give them pause for thought.

Thu, 11 Jun, 2015 - 01:00

Editorial

Sixty people were arrested over the past three days as part of an extensive nationwide investigation into drug dealing.

More than 100 gardaí were involved in the search and arrest operations in Dublin, Cork and Wexford.

Searches were carried out at 50 homes and gardaí say the covert operation into the supply of heroin, cocaine and other drugs has been ongoing for six months.

The investigation also targeted two other heroin supply networks in Dublin and Cork while ‘Operation Denver’ in Wexford town resulted in the arrest of seven men and two women including a family criminal gang — a father, brothers and sisters — aged from 22 to 61.

In Cork, 16 men and nine women were arrested in a operation focused on the supply of heroin to the city.

The Garda operation is welcome, but they can only do so much. As Chief Supt Michael O’ Sullivan, from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, put it: “The scourge of drugs in local communities can only be combated with local community support.”

That means every citizen doing his or her duty to ensure that drug dealing will not be tolerated. Staying silent is not an option.