Gardaí reveal drug statistics

There are now at least 10 regular heroin users in Killarney, a senior Garda officer in the town revealed, yesterday.

Inspector Barry O’Rourke also said heroin use was a growing problem in Killarney, with the supply coming mainly via Limerick.

Last month, Kerry gardaí reported that Tralee now had upwards of 100 heroin users supplied from Limerick, Cork and Dublin.

Three local dealers in Tralee have been jailed, in the past six months, and the number of drugs cases coming before Circuit Criminal Court sittings in the town is on the increase.

Heroin with a street value of about €16,000 been seized in Tralee, in recent months.

However, a number of people dealing in the killer drug are still at large in Kerry, according to gardaí.

As part of a Garda crackdown on illegal drugs, a number of significant cannabis seizures have been made in the county in recent weeks.

An estimated €150,000 worth of cannabis plants growing outdoors was seized in the Derrycunnihy area, between Kenmare and Killarney, while €10,000 worth of cannabis plants, also growing outside, was seized in a separate operation near Kenmare town.

Arrests are expected shortly arising from the seizures.

Inspector O’Rourke said gardaí in Kenmare were very active in drugs enforcement, as was a drugs unit for the Killarney district, based in Killarney.

"Searches are being carried out on a weekly basis," he said.

Source: Donal Hickey, The Irish Examiner, 10/08/2010