GARDAÍ have recovered a small amount of suspected cocaine and other drug paraphernalia in a planned raid targeting the operations of a drugs dealers in the St Mary’s Park estate in Limerick.
Gardai “carried out a search of a property” in the local authority estate today, a spokesman confirmed.
“A small quantity of suspected cocaine and other drug paraphernalia was seized during this search. No arrests have been made, and garda investigations are ongoing,” they added.
The garda operation is part of a response to complaints from residents of 24-hour drug dealing at properties in the estate.
Last week, Gardai and Limerick City and County Council announced a joint taskforce aimed at tackling the issue after gardai raided properties in the estate on March 4th, arrested two men and a boy and recovered €50,000 worth of cash and suspected cocaine, heroin, cannabis, prescription tablets.
Limerick Divisional Chief Superintendent, Gerry Roche, said four new community gardai have been deployed to tackle drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in the estate.
Gardai are also utilising increased checkpoints and patrols by the Divisional Drug Unit in the crackdown on drugs.
Limerick City and County Council announced last week it is to fasttrack the demolition of 12 derelict properties in the estate, which dealers are using to store and sell drugs from.
Speaking at the launch of the taskforce last week, Chief Roche said: “We are 100% focused on stopping drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in all parts of Limerick. Unfortunately some of the derelict buildings in the St Mary’s Park area have attracted drug use and we intend on stamping this out with the help of the Council and the local community.”
“Drugs have such a negative impact on so many lives and have no place in our community. We would ask that if you notice any drug activity, that you report it to Gardaí immediately,” added Chief Roche.
Local Sinn Fein TD, Maurice Quinlivan who is also a director of the Mid West Drug and Alcohol Taskforce, recently called for increased funding for local drugs services which, he said, “will be facing a tsunami of addiction when the current pandemic restrictions end”.
“I have raised this issue with the Minister for Justice, the relevant Minister of State and others or a number of months now. Families in this estate have been living with the presence of open 24-hour drug dealing for a long time. One house has been acting like a drug supermarket for months.”
