Over €1.5m in drugs have been seized in Swords this year, Senior Gardaí have revealed.
At the public meeting of the Joint Policing Committee this week in Swords, Superintendent Ronan Barry outlined how an increase in searches and detections in the Swords area has led to €1,594,960 worth of drugs being seized.
At the meeting he outlined how 32 incidents of drugs for sale or supply being seized have happened since the start of 2023.
The majority of the drugs came from just one seizure of 60kgs of cannabis in a farmyard in the district which was estimated at €1.3m.
Other seizures included:
- Cannabis worth €21,280 found in Applewood, along with ammunition in March
- Cocaine and Cannabis worth €19,800 found in Swords Manor in April
- Prescription meds worth €21,280 found in Ridgewood in May.
Some 437 searches were carried out in the Swords area this year and there were also 32 simple possession incidents.
The public meeting also heard how garda numbers at the Swords station has remained relatively static at 68, (one inspector, 10 sergeants, and 57 gardaí).
There was positive news in the burglary numbers in Swords which have significantly dropped in the last year which have fallen to 47 from 79 in the previous year.
The community garda section currently has 9 gardaí for the Swords area. The community response unit, which is credited with the drop in burglaries and increases searches, will be reestablished before Halloween but the future of the unit remains uncertain because of the impact of new rosters which will come into effect in November.
Cllr Ian Carey, who chaired the meeting, said:
“The drugs seizure figures for this year are very alarming. They point to the growing prolifieration of cannabis and cocaine. I have to give credit to the gardaí for these large seizures we are seeing. Increases in seizures like this often point to increased garda activity and searches rather than an increase drug use.
“It was positive to see the burglary numbers slashed. I very much hope that the Community Response Unit, which has been so effective in the Swords area, is able to continue and we find a way with the new roster to deliver this kind of policing which has been very effective.”