Gardaí in the Galway City have put in place a specialist unit to tackle the problem of families being threatened and intimidated by drug gangs over unpaid debts.

The gangs are ‘going after’ the parents of young people who find themselves unable to pay suppliers – this often happens after Gardaí have made a seizure of illegal substances.

This week, a senior Garda warned that parents and family members ‘often found themselves in a very bad place’ when they were confronted by the drugs gangs.

Threats of assaults and the burning of property have been made against the parents of young people who owe the money, according to Gardaí.

Now Gardaí in the city have set-up a specialist anti-intimidation unit, headed up by Detective Inspector Brendan Carroll, to help families who find themselves in such a predicament.

The issue was raised at yesterday’s (Thursday) meeting of the City Joint Policing Committee in City Hall where Detective Superintendent Shane Cummins (pictured) gave an outline of the Garda programme to tackle organised crime.

He said that while there had been a high success rate in terms of drugs seizures and the prosecution of those involved in sale and supply, major issues had arisen in relation to the intimidation of families.

“Intimidation of families by gangs involved in the drugs trade is a very serious issue and with this in mind we have set up a special unit under Detective Inspector Brendan Carroll (091 337224) to deal with the problem.
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the March 1 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.