The Galway Garda Divisional Drugs Unit has tightened its grip on organised drug gangs operating in the county with new figures showing a 300% increase in detections of drugs for sale or supply.

A total of 44 incidents of possession of drugs for sale or supply were recorded in the first five months of this year, according to a Garda report published at Monday’s County Galway Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting at County Hall.

Olivia Maher, local Garda crime analyst, said that represented an increase of 33 seizures on the same period last year, or 300% more than the first five months of 2022. The figures did not include Galway City seizures.

Ms Maher told the meeting that the increase in possession for sale or supply was due to active policing of the issue in the county.

She said that the total estimated street value of the drugs seized in the county up to the end of May was €676,000.  This included €340,000 worth of cannabis, and €316,000 worth of cocaine. There was some €13,000 worth of ecstasy seized during that five-month period, and smaller amounts of heroin and other drugs.

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