New drug phone line leads to seizures

GARDAÍ SAY they have had substantial success in seizing drugs as a result of information received on a "dial to stop dealing" phone line launched just over a month ago.

From a total of more than 450 calls, it says it has received a total of 141 informative reports which had led to a significant number of arrests and a major drugs seizure.

The free phone line - 1800 220 220 - was officially launched last September and allows individuals to anonymously pass on information about suspected drug dealing in their community.

This information is then passed on to gardaí.

The campaign follows a pilot project run by the Blanchardstown Local Drugs Task Force in 2006 when the State's first non-Garda confidential phone line was used to collect information on drug dealing in the Dublin 15 area.

In the initial phase the campaign is covering much of the greater Dublin area including Tallaght, Blanchardstown, urban areas in Co Kildare, the northeast of Dublin and the north inner city.

Speaking at the launch yesterday, Labour TD Joe Costello said every sector of society must be informed and mobilised in the fight against drugs. "We believe that our initiative today is an important step in mobilising the public to take action," he said.

Mr Costello said the launch of the phone line would be accompanied by the distribution of thousands of leaflets and posters to schools, clubs, retail outlets, sporting groups, youth services and community and drugs projects. Public houses will be particularly targeted.

The initiative is supported by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Eibhlin Byrne and a number of local representatives including Mr Costello, Cyprian Brady, Tony Gregory, Christy Burke, Mary Lou MacDonald, Eoin Ryan and Gay Mitchell. It is also backed by Dublin City Business, Siptu, Dublin City Council, An Garda Síochána, local Prison Services, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, Dublin Inner City Partnership and North Inner City Drugs Task Force.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times