On Friday 7th March Gardaí from Coolock Drugs Unit, assisted by local uniformed Gardaí carried out a number of targeted searches in the locality. These searches yielded cannabis herb with an estimated street value of approximately €2.5 million (subject to analysis).
As the searches were part of an ongoing operation, and subject to court proceedings, we are unable at this point to provide specifics. However, the seizure of such a significant volume of cannabis herb is the culmination of hard work and dedicated police activity by the Gardaí in Coolock. It is also indicative of the type of successes that targeted, analysis-led policing provides. It is this type of modern intelligent policing that An Garda Síochána feels will ensure that criminal elements will continue to be brought to justice, and it will continue to be used by the organisation to ensure safer communities for all.
An Garda Síochána have in recent times recorded significant successes in intercepting substantial quantities of controlled drugs on a local level and have recorded numerous arrests of individuals involved in the trafficking and distribution of controlled drugs throughout the State.
The Policing Plan 2014 sets out the continued commitment of An Garda Síochána to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in criminal activity, including multi-disciplinary approaches which are utilised to ensure the activities of individuals and groups involved in criminal enterprise are effectively targeted. This ensures that activities of individuals and groups involved in criminal enterprise are effectively targeted, and that criminal networks are disrupted and dismantled through the aforementioned use of advanced analytical and intelligence methods.
Speaking at the DMR offices, Assistant Commissioner (Dublin Region) John Twomey said:
"I would like to commend the Garda members from Coolock and the other Regional Units involved in such a significant seizure. As Commissioner for the Dublin Region, I am all too well aware of the impact of drugs on communities throughout the Region. I can only re-iterate that the role of An Garda Síochána is to support communities, and lead the efforts to rid the scourge of controlled drugs. The use of legislation that recognises that criminal elements who are involved in the sale and supply of drugs are also involved in wider criminality ensures that we can dismantle their networks and ensure a safer community for all."
