Ten arrests since January in Sligo crackdown on organised crime

SINCE January 2022 gardaí in Sligo who are investigating organised crime have arrested 10 people, while eight separate files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to organised crime.

Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken revealed drug seizures this year have amounted to a value of €200,000 and cash of €100,000.

A recent garda search in open ground in the Caltragh area, using the garda dog unit, resulted in the seizure of €25,000 worth of cocaine.

Chief Supt Glacken told the Sligo Joint Policing Committee that in relation to organised crime gardaí have committed to tackling a number of identified criminal gangs here.

“We are using the specific crime gang legislation targeting people involved in organised crime, people who are mainly involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs which is on a national and international basis.

“A substantial amount of planning went into what we have been doing and the arrest phase of that investigation commenced in January 2022,” he said.

Sligo’s senior garda said one person is charged with directing a criminal organisation which is only the second time in Ireland a person has been charged with this offence.

That person will be tried at the Special Criminal Court, a non-jury court.

“We also have other people charged with money laundering offences and we have a number of further arrests planned which are wide ranging, touching not just on criminality but on the facilitation of criminality through the movement of money or the use of other avenues to disguise criminal activity,” he said.

In addition to the 2022 seizures of cash and drugs, gardai conducted 440 searches under the drugs act in 2021, seizing drugs worth €700,000 and cash worth €40,000. He said there’s a lot of [garda] activity taking place in the organised crime area. “We have put a lot of investment into it. I have invested substantially in terms of resources in that in the last two years. I am committed to continuing to do that to tackle organised crime and particularly the impact of organised crime around intimidation, feuding, criminal activity arising from feuding, threats to life and general threats to increasing harm to community and society and that will continue,” he said.

He added: “It is a substantial undertaking, but we are committed to continuing to do that.”

RIGHT: The Special Criminal Court in Dublin.