Drugs with an estimated street value of nearly €470,000 were seized by gardaí in Galway county for the year to date with the number arrested for sale or supply increasing by 46 per cent.
The statistics which were disclosed by Chief Superintendent Tom Curley at Monday's JPC meeting over Microsoft Teams, presented a total estimated street value of drugs of €469,489 was seized in the county last year with the arrests for simple possession up from 128 to 140 from the same period last year.
A breakdown of the statistics showed an estimated €223,326 worth of cannabis was seized this year, as well as €6,190 worth of ecstasy, €83,118 worth of cocaine, and €141,826 worth of heroin and €15,029 designated as other.
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Fianna Fáil councillor Mary Hoade described the 46 per cent increase in arrests for sale or supply as frightening and worrying.
Chief Superintendent Curley put the increase in seizures down to gardai being more active on the ground. However, he warned that the increase in the seizures of heroin was concerning as he explained increase in the seizures of the drug usually coincides with an increase in crime.
Speeding remains main offence in Galway
Overall crimes recorded in Galway county saw a decrease of 1.1 per cent from the previous period last year with 8,166 noted for 2020, down from 8,255 for 2019.
Speeding was the biggest offence in the county with 5,818 crimes recorded, up 18 per cent from the previous year, followed by domestic disputes - where no offence was disclosed, reported at 436. There were 591 cases of property crime recorded, down from 728 crimes for the same period in 2019.
