Drug detections plummet after festival cancellations

The number of drugs detections in the Mullingar Garda District plummeted last year due primarily to the cancellation of two music events.

The coronavirus pandemic led to the cancellation of the Life, and Body and Soul music festivals last year. According to provisional garda statistics for 2020, there were 196 simple possession detections last year compared to 1,006 in 2019, a decrease of 80pc; while the number of detections for drug dealing fell from 77 to 48, a 38pc decrease.

In the Athlone District there was an increase in detections for both simple possession and dealing, and there were 31 detections relating to drug dealing compared to 24 the year before, an increase of 24%; the number of detections for simple possession went from 77 in 2019 to 101 – an increase of 31%.

Speaking at the first meeting of Westmeath Joint Policing Committee in 2021, held online last Monday, Cllr Frankie Keena asked why drug related detections rose in the Athlone area. While praising the gardaí for their work, he also that drug dealers are continuing to intimidate families.

Supt David Nolan said the increase in detections was down to a number of factors. He said that shortly after he took over as superintendent in the Athlone Distinct last October, the issue of local drug dealers intimidating the community was raised at a JPC meeting and, arising from that, he set up a special operation to target people alleged to be involved and to conduct surveillance.

Supt Nolan revealed that between the start the operation and the end of the year, 22 premises and 69 vehicles were searched, four money laundering investigations are ongoing, €30,000 of cash and €38,000 worth of drugs were seized.

“We are continuing to maintain pressure on people we believe are involved in drugs intimidation in the Athlone area,” he said.

Cllr John Dolan praised gardaí for their successes against drugs gangs and their work through the pandemic. He also wondered if there was a “role for CAB” in efforts to target “well known criminals in the area”. “They don’t seem to have any other source of income and they are living a fairly good lifestyle. I just would suggest the CAB probably has a role,” he said.

Chief Supt Fergus Healy said an increase in drugs detections is a good sign. “While you might think things are getting bad, in effect it is police activity driving the figures up.”

He said the Drugs Unit in the Westmeath Division had been restructured last year, with a new county wide focus and he expects the changes to reap dividends. “In the past we had them concentrating on the two towns, but now the unit is concentrating on the entire county and I would expect to see increases in drugs detections.”