News (Media Awareness Project) - Ireland: Gardai Arrest 108 In Drugs Operation |
| Title: | Ireland: Gardai Arrest 108 In Drugs Operation |
| Published On: | 1998-11-20 |
| Source: | Irish Times (Ireland) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-06 19:47:36 |
GARDAI ARREST 108 IN DRUGS OPERATION
More than 100 people accused of selling heroin have been arrested in
Dublin this week, with around 40 more arrests expected in the latest
wave of the undercover Garda Operation Cleanstreets.
One of the youngest people to be charged with dealing heroin is a
13-year-old boy. Around nine out of 10 of those charged were men, with
the largest proportion in their 20s. By yesterday morning 108 people
had been arrested this week as a result of the eight-week operation in
which 12 undercover gardai bought drugs in areas of Dublin.
One hundred and five of the 108 have been charged in connection with
heroin, bringing the total number charged under the operation to 204.
A further 12 people have been charged this week with selling drugs in
nightclubs in Dublin as the result of a separate operation called
Nightcap, which also used undercover gardai. It is believed that
gardai will apply to have licences removed from two nightclubs because
they found evidence that drugs were sold on the premises after the
clubs had received official warnings. Up to 25 people are expected to
be charged with drug-dealing offences as a result of the operation.
A large proportion of alleged heroin offences under Operation
Cleanstreets were committed in St Michael's Estate and the surrounding
Inchicore area. The alleged offences also took place in Ballymun in
north Dublin, Ballyfermot, Crumlin, Darndale, Coolock and Santry and
in Meath St in the city centre.
"I think Cleanstreets has been a very effective operation," Assistant
Commissioner Jim McHugh said yesterday. "It identified a large number
of people and they're being processed through the courts. While many
are addicts not all of them are."
The Garda National Drugs Unit had prepared a proposal for
detoxification treatment for a small proportion of those charged with
heroin offences. However Mr McHugh said the treatment programme was
awaiting official sanction before it could be set up.
Gardai had hoped that up to 15 offenders could be sentenced to a
treatment regime based in a west Dublin centre, using FAS training and
counselling measures.
Checked-by: Patrick Henry
More than 100 people accused of selling heroin have been arrested in
Dublin this week, with around 40 more arrests expected in the latest
wave of the undercover Garda Operation Cleanstreets.
One of the youngest people to be charged with dealing heroin is a
13-year-old boy. Around nine out of 10 of those charged were men, with
the largest proportion in their 20s. By yesterday morning 108 people
had been arrested this week as a result of the eight-week operation in
which 12 undercover gardai bought drugs in areas of Dublin.
One hundred and five of the 108 have been charged in connection with
heroin, bringing the total number charged under the operation to 204.
A further 12 people have been charged this week with selling drugs in
nightclubs in Dublin as the result of a separate operation called
Nightcap, which also used undercover gardai. It is believed that
gardai will apply to have licences removed from two nightclubs because
they found evidence that drugs were sold on the premises after the
clubs had received official warnings. Up to 25 people are expected to
be charged with drug-dealing offences as a result of the operation.
A large proportion of alleged heroin offences under Operation
Cleanstreets were committed in St Michael's Estate and the surrounding
Inchicore area. The alleged offences also took place in Ballymun in
north Dublin, Ballyfermot, Crumlin, Darndale, Coolock and Santry and
in Meath St in the city centre.
"I think Cleanstreets has been a very effective operation," Assistant
Commissioner Jim McHugh said yesterday. "It identified a large number
of people and they're being processed through the courts. While many
are addicts not all of them are."
The Garda National Drugs Unit had prepared a proposal for
detoxification treatment for a small proportion of those charged with
heroin offences. However Mr McHugh said the treatment programme was
awaiting official sanction before it could be set up.
Gardai had hoped that up to 15 offenders could be sentenced to a
treatment regime based in a west Dublin centre, using FAS training and
counselling measures.
Checked-by: Patrick Henry
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
