The issue of cocaine addiction and usage in and around Galway city and county is escalating, this week’s meeting of the County Council’s Joint Policing Committee was told.
Amid calls being made for greater awareness campaigns in schools and colleges, the meeting was told that the trade in cocaine is burgeoning and that additional policing and educational resources are needed to combat it.
In response, Gardai announced that an additional FOUR officers have been appointed to the local drugs unit in a bid to counteract the escalation in supply and use.
Cllr Andrew Reddington outlined his concern at the growing usage of the drug saying that it was widely available in every town and village in the county.
“It is as easy to get a bag of cocaine as it is to get a bag of sugar in the city or county,” he said.
“From what I have been told, there is a serious problem acrouss the county.There is a need for a serious programme of education in our schools and colleges to counteract this use and trade,” he said.
He was supported by Cllr Daithi O Cualain who said that Galway city and county is snowing with cocaine and that it is imperative that gardai are granted and deploy additional resources to deal with the problem.
In response, Supt Damien Flanagan told the meeting that Gardai are aware of the increased circulation of cocaine and have now appointed four extra gardai to the drug unit.
The increase was welcomed by the committee.
