Three Longford drug seizures inside a week as Garda documentary highlights challenges of 'drugs epidemic'

Ireland's “national drugs epidemic that is felt at local level” was highlighted by Longford Gardai featured on a new RTE series that commenced last Monday night, on RTE One.

On The Beat follows members of An Garda Síochána on the frontline, providing an inside look at the daily lives of serving officers.

Filmed over three months, it follows the work day of officers policing urban and rural Ireland.

From foot and car patrol, station front desk and support work, criminal investigations through to community policing and supporting regional or national Garda operations.

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Screened following a week where Longford Gardai detailed a number of drug seizures on social media, the documentary touched on the challenges in that area.

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This series follows members of An Garda Síochána working at a grass-root level, as it looks at the role Gardai play within the communities they are tasked with serving and protecting, where no day is ever the same.#

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The series will follow a number of different Gardaí, ranging in age and rank, as they carry out their daily duties.

Longford based Garda Keith O’Brien said dealing with drug users poses difficulties for Gardaí: “There’s different types of drugs, whether it be cocaine or ecstasy or whatever it is they don’t tend to sleep.

“They’re awake, they’re paranoid, they go from high to low to high to low literally in a matter of seconds. And they’re just unpredictable.”

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Garda Louise Fleming identified drug dealing and drug driving as two of the more prevalent offences officers have to deal with at night: “We are aware of people in the town that are involved in the drug trade, who would be dealing and taking drugs.

The documentary follows officers on patrols in Longford town.

Garda Fleming said of the criminals they come in daily contact: “The younger crowds coming through definitely have lesser respect for Gardai and authority. They don't care that you are a Guard, there is no fear of being arrested, or charged, or going before the court as much as you would see in the older generation.”

The officer spoke of the challenges faced by officers: “Some people see the glamorous idea of dealing drugs, they think there is loads of money and it's cool,” Gda Fleming said, “You have to remind them their family member could get injured by a drug driver, you have to point out the other side to them as well, that it is not this glamorous lifestyle that some may lead to believe.”

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