A CLEAN SWEEP

IT IS satisfying to be able to comment on some good news concerning the
Garda. The strike against alleged heroin pushers on the streets of Dublin
yesterday was a welcome contrast to the one they have been pursuing in their
Blue Flu campaign.

The fact that young trainees played such a prominent role is also worth
noting. The drugs trade is cold, cruel, and brutal and those who ply it must
have no hiding place. The garda national drugs unit who coordinated
yesterday's swoops are fighting a worthy battle.

Let us hope that those of the 70 arrested who are found guilty will be kept
out of action for some time. So often over-crowding in our prisons has made
a mockery of sentencing and criminals are out again in jig time.

Mounting high profile raids without the certain knowledge that there will be
somewhere to detain those found guilty is a thankless exercise.

Enforcement in itself will not win the drugs war education, treatment, and
rehabilitation also have roles to play. But the first move is undoubtedly to
get the heroin out of our towns and cities and nailing those responsible for
putting it there.

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"