Drug search surge

Gardaí have conducted 3,345 searches for drugs in the past year on Leeside, a top ranking garda has revealed.

Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin confirmed the figure following calls for the gardaí to introduce a stop, search and seize method to combat the illegal drug trade in the city.

Independent Cllr Paudie Dineen made the call during the most recent Cork City Joint Policing Committee meeting where he said that there was open drug taking “on a daily basis”, in the city centre.

Cllr Dineen added: “There’s a perception out there that these people can sell and take drugs freely and that there’s no penalty.

“These people are happy to take the risk. This is affecting traders and the city as a whole in general.”

He said: “There’s no smoke without fire and there’s a lot of smoke out there. A no tolerance approach is needed. Stop, search and seize is what’s needed. Find out who these people are and what their business is in the city.”

Chief Superintendent McPolin said that the amount of searches for drugs has increased on last year and that gardaí are being proactive about drug trade in Cork city. 
He added, however: “We can’t just stop anybody on the street and search them. We have to be cognisant of human rights. We target known offenders but we need to be accountable for our actions too.”
His comments came amid a rise in drugs offences this year.
Comparing the first ten months of 2019 with 2018, there was a 50 per cent increase in the cultivation or manufacturing of drugs, from four to six incidents.
There was a 12 per cent rise in the number of people caught for selling or supplying drugs from 137 to 154 while this year saw a 26 per cent increase in the possession of drugs for personal use from 578 to 728.
Chief Superintendent McPolin said: “We have some very significant drug seizures over the past couple of months including €350,000 worth of heroin a few weeks ago. We’ve been targeting dealers and those who have been benefitting and making an income from the drugs trade.”
He said that cocaine was a popular drug of choice adding it was a “worrying trend” and that there was “no socio-economic barrier” to it.