Gardaí conduct series of drug raids in Thurles, Roscrea and Birr

Gardaí investigating drug dealers based in the Midlands have launched separate operations in Co Tipperary and Co Offaly.

The raids have taken place in Roscrea and Thurles, both in Co Tipperary, and in Birr, Co Offaly.

The searches in Roscrea and Birr resulted in two arrests. A number of properties were raided by a team of around 50 gardaí at five separate search sites, with the searches in Roscrea and Birr ongoing this morning.

Local Garda members, including those from divisional drug units, were backed by the armed Regional Support Unit, a member of which used a Taser stun gun against a man when a public order incident emerged.

A second man has been taken to hospital with a suspected heart attack. The two people now being held by gardaí were arrested for allegedly trying to obstruct the searches.

The move against the suspects comes after concerns were expressed locally that the drugs trade in the area was worsening.

There have been public meetings in Roscrea in the past week in which local people voiced their anger about the impact of the drugs trade on the town.

The attendance was estimated at more than 1,000, in a town with a population of 5000, with many people concerned that recent attacks and suicides in the town were linked to a growing drugs problem, in particular a worsening heroin trade.

A protest was also staged outside the local garda station in a bid to encourage a firmer response from the Garda and also because of fears that the station may be closed, or its opening hours scaled back.

Sinn Féin councillor David Doran said Gardaí had taken the concerns of residents about drugs in Roscrea aired at the two public meetings seriously.

“There’s no doubt there’s a big problem with drugs in Roscrea,” he said.

Cllr Doran said residents were “extremely concerned” with drug related deaths in the town.

“People want to get their town back. A lot of good young people are getting lost (in drugs),” he said

The raid in Thurles took place last night and resulted in amphetamine and cannabis with a combined street value of an estimated €40,000 being seized by members of the divisional drugs unit.

A man in his 30s was arrested and is being held at Thurles garda station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act, allowing for his detention without charge for up to seven days.

A female in her 20s has been arrested today, the second person arrested in connection to the Thurles drug seizure.

Garda sources said the drugs trade nationally appears to be recovering in line with wider economic conditions after becoming depressed in the years of recession.

Drug seizures nationally are becoming more frequent and interceptions of hauls worth several million Euro each have also become common again.

Gardaí believe this is a strong indication that gangs are becoming cash rich as the disposable incomes that fuel the bulk of the illicit trace increase meaning gangs now have the funds to buy in bulk.