Cash-strapped students in Galway are being targeted by drug lords to act as money mules, a city councillor has warned.

Cllr Alan Cheevers (FF) made the remarks at a public meeting of the City Joint Policing Committee (JPC) and said that the €667,000 worth of drugs seized by city gardaí in the first 10 months of the year “is only the tip of the iceberg”.

The meeting at the Connacht Hotel heard that some €45 million passed through the accounts of so-called money mules nationwide this year alone.

Cllr Cheevers said drug dealers were targeting young people in particular.

“They’re in the 18 to 24-year-old age bracket and college students are being targeted,” said Cllr Cheevers.

It was revealed that cocaine was by far the most common drug seized in Galway, making up over half of all the drugs detected – cocaine valued at €348,000 was seized in the 10 months to the end of October.

This was closely followed by cannabis, of which €260,000 worth was taken off the streets by gardaí, while the remainder of the total was made up by heroin, ecstasy and other illegal drugs.

Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche said the drugs problem was “unquantifiable” and promised that city gardaí were “attacking money laundering in a targeted and systematic way”.

Drugs were not only an urban problem but were a huge issue in county towns as well, he said, and all gardaí, from uniformed to armed response, were focused on the issue.

“Roads policing are taking a targeted role in tackling it as well,” said Chief Supt Roche.

“A new strategy is starting tomorrow,” he said at the meeting..

“Getting involved in being a money mule is a personal choice. We can warn and caution people against it.

“We can say so much but people continue to do things that are illegal,” he added.