150 HEROIN SUSPECTS FOR COURTS AFTER ARRESTS

More than 150 people accused of heroin dealing are to appear in Dublin
District Courts this week. They were arrested after allegedly selling heroin
to undercover gardai in Operation Cleanstreets.

The cases follow the latest wave of arrests under the operation, set up by
Assistant Commissioner Jim McHugh earlier this year and operated by the
Garda National Drugs Unit. At least three District Courts, the Bridewell,
Kilmainham and Tallaght, are expected to be used to process the charges.

More than 100 people accused of street dealing have already been charged
with selling heroin on the evidence gathered by undercover gardai. Most of
the arrests were made in the south inner city and canal estates.

GardaI have seized about IEP10,000 in cash from both addicts and dealers, as
well as more than 350 deals of heroin. A unit of more than 10 young gardai
are involved in the operation, pretending to be addicts and sometimes using
motorcycles and vans.

Uniformed gardai have provided back-up, arresting a suspected dealer after
the transaction has occurred. In some situations the Garda "buyer" has used
a marked note to pay for the heroin, which is then found after the arrest.

Some dealers have responded by moving indoors and selling only by telephone
to known addicts who arrange to meet them at certain locations. Other
dealers, usually addicts themselves dealing to feed a habit, tend to be less
cautious and approach anyone who appears to be looking for heroin.

Stop-and-search operations in areas such as St Michael's Estate in Inchicore
have resulted in dealers moving to other areas.

Despite recent large seizures, including one of 22kg of heroin, the street
price of the drug is still low, with some poor-quality heroin selling for
less than IEP10 a bag.

European Drug Prevention Week, which began yesterday, will involve events
throughout the State aimed at educating children and parents.

Today the Minister of State for Local Development, Mr Chris Flood, will
announce a drugs awareness video for parents produced by the Eastern Health
Board and the National Parents' Council.

The EHB chief executive, Mr P.J. Fitzpatrick, is due to outline developments
in drug-treatment services for the Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare areas.

Almost 3,300 addicts have registered with EHB doctors and clinics since the
board introduced a new registration system for addicts being prescribed the
heroin substitute, methadone.

The system is designed to stop the flow of the synthetic opiate on to the
black market by prescribing only to registered addicts with identity cards.

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst