By Emma Ryan
A DEDICATED drug unit is to be up and running in Donegal by the end of October as drugs finds for this year reach over €3m.
To date, €3,623,384.60 worth of drugs and cash has been seized in 2023 in Donegal.
Friday’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee heard a dedicated drugs unit for Donegal is expected to be operational by the end of October.
Figures provided at the meeting showed drug offences are down slightly this year when compared to figures from 2017 but there has been a concerning increase in incidents of intoxicated driving, particularly drug driving.
Cocaine was named as the common drug detected.
The high volume of drugs found in the county includes the two packages of drugs which were discovered washed up at beaches in Fanad and Dunfanaghy in July.
Chief Superintendent Aidan Glackin said the investigation into the major drug find is ongoing with Gardaí being assisted by international colleagues.
He added there are additional teams who engage in coastal watch including Revenue, Coastguard and Interpol, and these agencies work together to patrol the coastline.
Superintendent Glackin added that the drugs unit will be a dedicated unit to cover all of the county and should be in operation by the end of October “all being well.”
He acknowledged that the county has seen an increase in drugs in the past number of years and referred to concerns surrounding drugs intimidation arising out of drugs debt.
The meeting heard there are families in Donegal who are taking responsibility for their family members’ drugs debts.
Superintendent Glackin urged anyone who is a victim of drugs intimidation to come forward to Gardaí.
Speaking at the meeting Cllr Donal Coyle said the drugs hauls which washed up on the shore in Donegal is worrying as it is “impossible to know how many more got in.”
“Imagine €3m worth of drugs coming into the county and the damage that could have caused,” said Cllr Coyle.
Cllr Michael McBride echoed the concerns and said it was suspected that “the drugs found were a small part of a large cargo.”
Superintendent Glackin said he was unable to comment further on the drugs find but reiterated his statement that the investigation was ongoing and Gardaí will continue to work with other authorities to investigate the incident.
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