Fears smaller drug dealers are now going unchallenged
By Maurice Garvey
THE number of dedicated Garda drug unit officers in DMR West Division has decreased from 28 in 2011 to 18 in 2017.
Figures of the substantial decrease were released by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan to Fianna Fáil TD John Curran through Dáil questions in December.
Deputy Curran fears “smaller dealers are going unchallenged” after areas across the capital have seen a severe reduction in resources for dedicated drugs squads.
“This is problematic to the on-going work required to tackle the escalation in drug related crime in Dublin,” he said.
The DMR West Division includes Clondalkin, Lucan, Ballyfermot, Rathcoole, Ronanstown, Finglas, Cabra with headquarters in Blanchardstown.
The data also revealed the DMR South Division, which includes Tallaght, has 18 gardai assigned to dedicated drug units, as of October 31, 2017.
Deputy Curran said: “The Government’s policy of ignoring the drugs crisis has put Dublin communities and vulnerable individuals at serious risk for far too long.
“As drug related crime has spread over the course of the past 12 months, we saw condemnation from the Justice Minister and repeated promises to crack down on criminal gangs. Despite this, they have overseen a reduction in the number of officers deployed to police our streets on the sale and distribution of narcotics.”
He continued: “It is important to note the huge amount of good work being done in our community day in and day out despite consistent cuts to garda numbers and the resources assigned to the drugs unit in Dublin West.
“While there have been a number of successful drug seizures in our area this year, the decrease in number of gardai operating as part of the drugs unit means that smaller dealers are going unchallenged.
“The reinstatement of fully resourced dedicated drugs units in all garda divisions in Dublin is a necessary component of the overall response required to tackle the drugs scourge.”
Minister Flanagan said garda numbers have risen to the 13,500 mark by the end of 2017, and they are now rebuilding and providing the Commissioner with resources to allow increased deployment of gardai across the organisation.
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