Assistant Garda Commissioner John O’Driscoll, who has responsibility for Special Crime Operations, has defended the force’s record on dealing with drugs. The drugs issue is being tackled in many ways, he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland – through local drugs units, the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Criminal Assets Bureau. Officers attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau uncovered the haul when they intercepted and searched a commercial haulage vehicle in Ballymascanlon, Dundalk on Tuesday. But this is not a matter for the Garda Síochana alone.”Educating young people about the dangers of using drugs and the consequences was an important aspect of tackling the drugs issue, said the Assistant Commissioner. Meanwhile, former ministers of State who have overseen the National Drugs Strategy will today warn that the partnership delivering the plan is “in danger of collapse” because powers are being centralised under the HSE.

Source: Irish Examiner October 30, 2019 08:37 UTC