DUBLIN GANG BELIEVED TO BE BEHIND HEROIN HAUL

One of the State's largest remaining drugs gangs, trafficking heroin
to west Dublin, is believed to have been behind the largest haul of
the drug seized in the State.

Seven kilos of heroin, thought to be of high purity, was found in farm
property between Balbriggan and Lusk, north Co Dublin, early yesterday.

There was no clear monetary value on the drug yesterday but its final
"street" value could be anywhere between IEP600,000 and IEP3.5 million.

Yesterday's haul was close to the total amount of heroin seized by
gardai last year: 8.2 kilos were seized in 1997. The seizure was more
than the total amounts seized in 1995 or for any other previous year.

Gardai believe a number of small gangs in Dublin who were previously
involved in robbery and other non-drug-related crime have moved into
drug trafficking because of the huge profits to be made. The gangs are
also filling vacuums left by the break-up of other major drugs gangs
by Garda action.

According to gardai in Dublin, the price of heroin in the city has
continued to stay at its lowest levels, selling for around IEP7 a
quarter-gramme, about 20 per cent of the price of the drug five years
ago.

The drug appears to be widely available in the city, being sold by
young dealers, many of whom are selling from mopeds or motorcycles to
avoid pursuit by gardai.

Yesterday's seizure resulted from a joint operation by the Garda
National Drugs Unit (GNDU) and gardai in Balbriggan.

The seven kilos of heroin were found on farmland near Lusk last month
and a surveillance operation was put in place, leading to the arrests
of six men and two women.

It is believed the "brown" heroin originated in south-west Asia and
was brought to Britain by Turkish smugglers. Gardai believe it was
destined for sale in west Dublin and belonged to a drugs gang based
there.

The seizure and lengthy surveillance operation was kept from the media
because gardai feared publicity about the find would make its way to
one of the main men involved in the deal. He was out of the State at
the time but was arrested by gardai when he returned to Dublin on
Wednesday and taken to Balbriggan Garda station.

The heroin was concealed in a field about six miles south of
Balbriggan and removed by gardai. As part of a follow-up operation,
gardai from the GNDU carried out surveillance on the movements of a
number of people around Dublin. On Wednesday night and yesterday they
arrested six men and two women, who were detained under the Misuse of
Drugs Act. Further follow-up searches were not ruled out.

After the arrests, there was a number of planned searches, during
which cocaine was discovered in south Co Dublin. It is believed to
belong to a former kidnapper and armed robber who has become involved
in the drugs trade.

It also emerged yesterday that information gathered by the GNDU led
the UK's National Crime Unit to seize 600 kilos of cannabis resin
worth approximately IEP6 million. Some 450 kilos were found in
Liverpool and 150 kilos in London. It is believed to have originated
on mainland Europe and to have been en route to its final destination
when police seized it.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry